Flora of North America species comparison

simple, 0–0.5 m. Leaf blade occasionally erect, proximal leaves often becoming reflexed near middle, lanceolate, flattened, abruptly narrowed and furrowed to apex, thin, widest near middle, 50–75 × 2–4 cm, usually soft and limp, scabrous, margins entire, long and curling, filiferous.

erect, paniculate, dense, arising completely within to mostly extending beyond rosettes, ovoid, 6–8.2 dm, glabrous, rarely slightly pubescent;

peduncle scapelike, to 0.8 m. Flowers pendent, 5–13 cm, nearly as wide;

perianth campanulate;

tepals connate basally to form shallow floral cup 7–12 mm, usually cream-colored, occasionally tinged with purple, 4.5–13 cm;

filaments connate proximally into collarlike structure, 3.2–12 mm, fleshy, pubescent;

anthers 5–7 mm;

pistil 4.5–8 × 0.7–1.2 cm (usually 4–5(–7) times longer than broad);

ovary 0.7–1.2 cm;

style 5–7 mm;

stigmas distinct.

paniculate, arising beyond rosettes, ovoid, 7.5–15 dm, glabrous;

bracts erect;

peduncle scapelike, 1–3 m, less than 2.5 cm diam.

pendent;

perianth globose;

tepals distinct, nearly white, ovate, 5–7 × 2–3 cm, glabrous, apex short-acuminate;

filaments shorter than pistil;

pistil 1.5–3.8 cm;

stigmas lobed.

pendent, baccate, indehiscent, elongate, 5–23 × 4–7.5 cm, fleshy, succulent.

erect, capsular, dehiscent, oblong, 3.8–5 × 2 cm, dehiscence septicidal.

dull black, obovate, 7–11 mm diam., 3 mm thick, rugose.

dull black, thin, 6 mm diam.