Flora of North America species comparison

ellipsoid to plumply ovoid, 2–4.5 × 1.2–4 cm diam., usually arranged either in a circle or semicircle around a common rhizome, or one above the other on a vertical rhizome.

5–8, 15–60 cm × 2–6 mm, shorter than raceme to just surpassing it, rarely longer.

narrow, grasslike, emerging conduplicate from neck of fibrous tunic.

13.5–55 cm.

condensed, 30–250-flowered, 4–32 cm, flowers closely packed along axis.

racemose, simple;

racemes spikelike, flowers subtended by a persistent, membranous bract;

distalmost bracts empty or concealing rudimentary flowers.

tepals linear to cuneate proximally and broadly subulate distally, 2.3–3.8 mm, fleshy, margins entire or rarely irregularly crenate;

auricles distinct or absent;

filaments subulate, 2 times tepal length.

proximalmost bisexual, distalmost functionally staminate;

tepals withering-persistent, 6, distinct, equal, leathery to slightly petaloid, yellowish green, green, or greenish purple, not clawed, linear-lanceolate to ovate, margins entire to crenulate or minutely denticulate;

hyaline basal auricle sometimes present;

perigonal nectaries not well developed;

stamens 6, distinct;

filaments withering-persistent, subulate or rarely distally dilated, 1.5–2.5 times tepal length;

anthers basifixed, narrowly sagittate before dehiscence, explanate after, extrose;

ovary superior, 3-locular, locules barely cohesive to connate;

styles persistent, 3, distinct.

capsular, 1–3-locular, dehiscence septicidal.

1–3-locular, ellipsoid to plumply ovoid, 0.8–1.9 cm × 5–12 mm.

2–4(–8) per locule, 3–6.7 × 1.6–2.2 mm.

1–8 per locule, ellipsoid to ovoid or conic, irregularly compressed or angled by mutual pressure.

= 8. 

= 16.