Flora of North America species comparison

20–75, many-ranked, spreading and recurved, not twisted, gray-green (rarely variegated with linear cream stripes), to 1 m × 1.5–3.5 cm, finely appressed-scaly;

sheath pale or slightly rust colored, ovate, not inflated, not forming pseudobulb, 6–15 cm wide;

blade linear-triangular, leathery, channeled to involute, apex attenuate.

mostly many-ranked, rosulate, or occasionally 2-ranked and/or laxly arranged;

blade linear to triangular or ligulate, margins entire, trichomes usually conspicuous.

scape conspicuous, erect, 20–50 cm, 6–12 mm diam.;

bracts densely imbricate proximally, often lax distally, erect to spreading, like leaves but gradually smaller;

sheath of bracts narrowing gradually into blade;

spikes very laxly 6–11-flowered, erect to spreading, 2–3-pinnate, linear, 15–40 × 10–15 cm, apex acute;

branches 5–40 (rarely simple).

central, 1–many-flowered, 2-ranked;

floral bracts mostly broad, conspicuous, rachis covered or exposed at anthesis.

10–200, conspicuous;

sepals free, elliptic, not keeled, 1.4–2 cm, thin-leathery, veined, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous;

corolla tubular, somewhat bilaterally symmetric, petals erect, slightly twisted, white, ligulate, to 4 cm;

stamens exserted;

stigma exserted, conduplicate-spiral.

bisexual;

sepals distinct or adaxial pair connate, usually symmetric;

petals distinct;

stamens included or exserted, filaments free;

ovary superior.

to 4 cm.

cylindric, dehiscent.

with basal, white, plumose appendage.

bracts widely spaced, erect, green or tinged purple, exposing most of rachis at anthesis, ovate, not keeled, 1.2–2 cm, leathery, venation slight, base visible at anthesis, apex acute, surfaces glabrous.

= 25 (Puerto Rico, West Indies).