Flora of North America species comparison

2–5+, clustered, often short-rhizomatous at base, rhizome not stout or iris-like, oblong, elongate, 1–3 × 0.8–1.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, grayish or brownish, membranous, minutely striate, cells in regular vertical rows, narrowly elongate, fibers persistent, parallel, few;

inner coats white to pink or reddish, cells in regular vertical rows, narrowly elongate.

1–several, attached to ± oblique rhizome, cylindric-conic, 5–6 × 1–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, light brown to grayish brown, reticulate, cells fine-meshed, open, ± fibrous;

inner coat white to light brown, not appearing cellular, 10–18-veined, veins prominent, parallel.

persistent, green at anthesis, 3–5, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil level;

blade solid, flat, channeled to broadly V-shaped in cross section, 10–25 cm × 1–6 mm, margins entire or denticulate.

persistent, green at anthesis, 2–3, sheathing proximal 1/3–1/2 scape;

blade solid, flat, narrowly lanceolate to broadly elliptic, 10–20 cm × 15–90 mm, base evidently petiolate, margins entire;

petiole 1–20 cm.

persistent, sometimes 2 or more produced successively from single bulb, usually clustered, nodding, solid, terete or ridged, particularly distally, sometimes flattened and narrowly winged, abruptly recurved near apex, 10–50 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, terete distally, 2-edged proximally, 30–70 cm × 2–3 mm.

persistent, cernuous, loose, 8–35-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate, beakless.

persistent, erect, loose, 20–35-flowered, hemispheric, bulbels unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 1–2, 3–6-veined, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, apex obtuse, nearly beakless.

campanulate, 4–6 mm;

tepals ± erect, pink or white, elliptic-ovate, ± equal, withering in fruit, margins ± entire, apex ± obtuse, at least outer tepals strongly incurved, midribs not thickened;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary conspicuously crested;

processes 6, flattened, ± triangular, margins entire or toothed;

style exserted, linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 6–25 mm, becoming stouter in fruit, elongating and bending abruptly upward from near point of attachment.

stellate, 4–5 mm;

tepals spreading, white or greenish white, outer lanceolate, inner narrowly ovate, ± equal, reflexed in age, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acute or obtuse;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style exserted, linear, equaling stamens or longer;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened;

pedicel 10–30 mm.

coat dull or shining;

cells smooth, minutely roughened, or each with minute, central papilla.

coat not known.

= 14.