Flora of North America species comparison

1 or more, not attached to rhizome, ovoid, 1.2–2 × 1–1.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing bulbs, brown to grayish brown, fibrous, fibers close, ± parallel;

inner coats white to light brown, not cellular.

generally 2–5+, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–2 × 0.8–1.8 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, membranous, prominently cellular-reticulate, cells irregularly arranged, ± transversely elongate, curved, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, ± transversely elongate, irregularly arranged, curved.

withering from tip by anthesis, 2–4, sheathing proximal 1/2+ scape;

blade fistulose proximally, solid distally, terete, linear to filiform, prominently ribbed proximally, channeled distally, 1.5–2.5 cm × 0.5–5 mm, margins and veins usually scabrid with minute teeth, apex acute.

usually deciduous with scape, withering from tip at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat or broadly channeled, ± falcate, 12–20 cm × 1–3.5 mm, margins entire.

persistent, solitary, erect, terete, 25–100 cm × 4–8 mm.

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 2–7 cm × 0.5–1.5 mm.

persistent, erect, compact to ± loose, 0–40-flowered, subglobose, with few to many bulbils or with bulbils only;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 4–9-veined, lanceolate, unequal, apex acuminate into beak, beak long, slender, to 20 cm, ± equaling or longer than base.

persistent, erect, compact, 10–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, (2–)3(–4), 4–5-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acuminate to apiculate.

usually aborting before capsules mature, if present, campanulate, 6–8 mm;

tepals erect, whitish or pinkish to purple, outer narrowly obovate, inner ± elliptic, unequal, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens included;

anthers yellow to reddish;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 15–60 mm.

campanulate, 6.5–8 mm;

tepals erect, white to pink with dark pink or purplish midvein, lanceolate to ± elliptic, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acute;

stamens included;

anthers purple;

pollen gray;

ovary crested;

processes 3, acute, ± lateral, margins entire;

style linear, shorter than stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 6–9 mm.

coat unknown;

capsules only rarely produced.

coat dull;

cells ± smooth.

= 14.