Flora of North America species comparison

, when present, primarily rhizomatous, shorter than 1 m. Leaf blade spreading, including distal leaves, spatulate-lanceolate, concavo-convex, thin, widest near middle, 15–46 × 0.7–2 cm, flexible, rather glaucous, margins entire, filiferous, brown or straw-colored.

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.

racemose, rarely paniculate proximally, arising within or more often 0–20 cm beyond rosettes, 4–7 dm;

branches, when present, few, short;

bracts reflexed when mature, purplish, narrowly triangular, proximal to 10 cm, distal 2–3 cm, tapering to pungent apex;

peduncle sometimes scapelike, 0.1–0.4 m. Flowers pendent;

perianth campanulate;

tepals distinct, white to somewhat greenish white, usually tinged pink or purple, broadly lanceolate, 3–4.7 × 1.5–3 cm;

filaments 1.3–1.7 cm;

pistil 2.4–3.2 cm × 0.5–0.8 cm;

style pale green or rarely white, 9–13 mm;

stigmas lobed.

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

erect, capsular, dehiscent, cylindrical, deeply constricted near middle, 3–4.2 × 2–2.7 cm, dehiscence septicidal.

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

dull black, thin, 6–8 × 5–8 mm.