Flora of North America species comparison

short.

short.

4–10, 2-ranked, recurving, gray, 6–12 × 0.2–0.3 cm, densely pruinose-scaly;

sheath pale, elliptic, not inflated, not forming pseudobulb, 4–8 mm wide;

blade subulate, terete distally, succulent, margins involute to nearly tubular, apex acute to attenuate.

5–10, many-ranked, contorted or secund-spreading, gray-green to silver, 6–10 × 0.3–0.5 cm, densely pruinose-scaly, scales coarse;

sheath dark chestnut brown within, ovate to elliptic, conspicuously inflated, forming small pseudobulb, 1.5–3 cm wide;

blade linear-subulate, semisucculent, margins involute, apex attenuate.

scape conspicuous, erect, 2–5 cm, ± 1 mm diam.;

bracts 1–2, widely spaced, erect, inconspicuous, nearly foliaceous;

sheath of bracts narrowing gradually into blade;

spikes ascending, subpalmate, elliptic, compressed, 8–15 ´ 4–6 mm, apex acute;

lateral branches absent.

scape inconspicuous, usually ascending, 1–3 cm, 2–3 mm diam.;

bracts densely imbricate, erect to spreading, like leaves but gradually smaller;

sheath of bracts narrowing abruptly into blade;

single spikes, usually ascending, pinnate, broadly elliptic, compressed, 2–3 × 1.2–2.4 cm, apex acute to obtuse.

usually 2, conspicuous;

sepals free, lanceolate, not keeled, 6–8 mm, thin, veined, apex acute, surfaces glabrous;

corolla tubular;

petals spreading toward apex, violet, elliptic, 0.7–1 cm;

stamens included;

stigma included, simple-erect.

3–12, conspicuous;

sepals free, elliptic, adaxial pair keeled, 1.2–1.8 cm, thin-leathery, veined, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous;

corolla tubular;

petals erect, blue-violet, ligulate, to 3 cm;

stamens exserted;

stigma exserted, conduplicate-spiral.

to 3 cm.

to 3.5 cm.

bracts laxly imbricate, erect, green, tinged purple, broad (covering all or most of rachis, rachis not visible at anthesis), narrowly elliptic, not keeled, 0.8–1 cm, thin-leathery, apex acute, surfaces densely grayish-scaly, venation even to slight.

bracts imbricate, erect, pink, broad (covering all or most of rachis, rachis not visible at anthesis), ovate, keeled, 2–2.2 cm, thin-leathery, base not visible at anthesis, apex broadly acute, surfaces densely scaly, venation even to slight.