Flora of North America species comparison

2–4, terminating thick, iris-like rhizome, elongate, 2–3 × 0.6–1 cm;

outer coats enclosing single bulb, grayish or brownish, membranous, minutely striate, cells in parallel vertical rows, narrow, elongate, not fibrous-reticulate, fibers persistent, parallel, few, coarse;

inner coats whitish, cells narrowly vertically elongate.

1–6+, not basally clustered, replaced annually by new bulbs borne terminally on rhizomes;

rhizomes 1–3, inconspicuous, slender, less than 2 cm including renewal bulb;

parent bulbs disappearing by anthesis except for still-functional roots and bulb coat, oblique-ovoid to ± oblong, 0.7–1.4 × 0.5–1.2 cm;

outer coats not enclosing bulbs, brown to gray-brown, ± obscurely reticulate, membranous, reticulum delicate, cells transversely elongate, V-shaped or ± wavy, forming obscure herringbone pattern, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, quadrate to ± rectangular, often contorted.

persistent, green at anthesis, 2–5, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil level;

blade solid, flat, 10–40 cm × 2–8 mm, margins entire.

persistent, withering from tip at anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, subterete to ± channeled, 9–30 cm × 1–2 mm, margins entire.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, flattened and narrowly winged distally, 20–60 cm × 1.5–4 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 10–35 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 7–20-flowered, subhemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–5-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acute.

persistent, erect, compact to loose, 10–20-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 4–6-veined, lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

narrowly urceolate, 10–13 mm;

tepals erect, pink, lanceolate, ± equal, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acuminate, midribs somewhat thickened;

stamens included, ca. 1/2 as long as tepals;

anthers yellow;

pollen light yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, distinctly 3-lobed;

pedicel 8–35 mm, elongating and becoming stout and curved in fruit.

conic to campanulate, 7–14 mm;

tepals erect, reddish purple, rarely white, narrowly lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, becoming rigid and carinate in fruit, margins finely denticulate (inner tepal more prominently so), apex acute to obtuse, becoming involute at tip and appearing acuminate;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 3, central, 2-lobed, minute, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, obscurely 3-lobed, scarcely thickened;

pedicel 10–20 mm.

coat dull or shining;

cells each with minute, central papilla, or obscurely and minutely roughened.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

= 14.