Flora of North America species comparison

1–50+, ovoid, 0.2–1.5 × 0.2–1 cm;

outer coats surrounding numerous, very dark purple bulbels, usually white or greenish, membranous, sometimes breaking into ± parallel, fibrous strips;

inner coats white, cells obscure, quadrate.

1–3, not rhizomatous, mostly depressed-globose, varying in size from cultivar to cultivar, 5–8 × 3–10 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, yellowish brown, red, or white, membranous, without reticulation;

inner coats white to pink, cells obscure to quadrate.

persistent, 2–5, sheathing 1/3–1/2 scape;

blade solid, flat or channeled, carinate, 15–40 cm × 2–5(–7) mm, margins entire.

persistent, 4–10, sheathing proximal 1/6–1/4 scape;

blade fistulose, usually ± semicircular in cross section, 10–50 cm × 4–20 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, ± solid, 25–90 cm × 1–4 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, fistulose, inflated below middle, 30–100 cm × 3–20 mm.

persistent, erect, very dense, 80–200-flowered, globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts caducous, 2, 7–12-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex narrowed to beak, beak to 2 cm.

persistent, erect, compact, to 500-flowered, globose, bulbils occasionally found;

spathe bracts caducous, 2–3, 3–4-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acute to acuminate.

campanulate, 4–7 mm;

tepals erect, purple, or inner with broad whitish margins and purple midvein, oblong to ovate, ± equal, becoming keeled and ± rigid in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse;

stamens included;

filaments: outer unlobed, inner with 2 prominent teeth on either side of anther, teeth 2–3 times anther-bearing portion, usually papillose to ciliate;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen light yellow to white;

ovary crestless;

style linear, ± equaling anther-bearing portion of stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicels 5–30 mm, outer much shorter than inner.

stellate to campanulate to urceolate, 3–7 mm;

tepals erect to ± spreading, white to pink with greenish midveins, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse or acute, outer ovate, inner oblong;

stamens exserted;

anthers white;

pollen white;

ovary crestless;

style linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 10–50 mm.

coat dull;

cells each with central papilla.

coat not known.