Flora of North America species comparison

usually solitary, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing single bulb, brown or grayish, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells not visible.

usually deciduous with scape, withering from tip at anthesis, 1, basally sheathing, sheath not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat or broadly channeled, ± falcate, 8–33 cm × 1–10 mm, margins entire.

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 2–20 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, erect, compact, 8–20(–30)-flowered, globose to conic, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 3, 9–13-veined, broadly ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acuminate.

conical to campanulate, 7–10 mm;

tepals strictly erect, dull purplish with darker midveins, ovate, ± equal, becoming membranous, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens equaling tepals or ± exserted;

filaments smooth proximally;

anthers purple;

pollen yellow or gray;

ovary crestless or crested;

processes 6, central, rounded, minute, margins entire;

style linear, slightly longer than stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 6–10 mm.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

= 14.