Flora of North America species comparison

1–8, occasionally 2–5-branched, 14–15 cm diam.

procumbent, to 0.4 m. Leaf blade divergent, spreading, linear or somewhat wider near middle, mostly straight, flattened or plano-convex, 25–65 × (0.3–)0.7–1.5 cm, soft, rigid, margins entire, becoming filiferous, whitish or light green.

blade erect, yellowish to bluish green, usually U- or V-shaped in cross section, thick, 36–128 × 1.6–7 cm, rigid, scabrous, margins entire, filiferous with straight, coarse fibers, light brown.

erect, paniculate, arising mostly within rosettes, variable in shape, usually ovoid, 18 dm, glabrous, rarely slightly pubescent;

peduncle scapelike, 0.3 m or longer.

paniculate, racemose distally, arising 2–4.6 dm beyond rosettes, ovoid, 4.5–13 dm, distance from leaf tips to proximal inflorescence branches more than twice leaf length when fully expanded, glabrous;

raceme 20–25 cm;

proximal branches 15–25 cm;

bracts erect;

peduncle scapelike, 1–2 m, less than 2.5 cm diam.

pendent;

perianth globose;

tepals distinct, cream-colored, occasionally tinged with purple, ovate, 2.7–8.1 × 1–3.4 cm, apex rounded or acute;

filaments 1–2.7 cm, short-pubescent proximally;

anthers 1–6 mm;

pistil 1.5–3.5 × 0.5–1 cm;

ovary 1.3–3.3 cm;

style 2–8 mm;

stigmas distinct.

pendent;

perianth hemispheric;

tepals distinct, pale greenish white, thin, 2.5–4.8 × 1.1–2.6 cm, apex acute;

filaments 1.7–2.2 cm, pubescent;

anthers 3.2 mm;

pistil slender, cylindric, 2.5–3.8 × 0.5–0.6 cm;

style whitish or pale green, 8–11 mm;

stigmas lobed.

pendent, baccate, indehiscent, 4.4–18.7 × 1.8–4.6 cm, fleshy, succulent.

erect, capsular, dehiscent, oblong-cylindric, deeply constricted near middle, (3.5–)4.6–6.3 × (1.5–)2.5–4.3 cm, dehiscence septicidal.

black, 5–14 mm diam., 1–5 mm thick.

glossy black, thin, 10–15 mm diam.