Flora of North America species comparison

1–5+, usually clustered, often short-rhizomatous at base, rhizome not stout or iris-like, ovoid, 2–4 × 1–2.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, grayish or brownish, membranous, fibers parallel, few, or sometimes reticulate, cells obscure, finely meshed;

inner coats whitish to pinkish, cells obscure, ± quadrate.

1–3, producing bulbels in basal cluster around roots, ovoid, 1–1.6 × 0.9–1.4 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, membranous, obscurely cellular-reticulate, cells quadrate, walls very sinuous, without fibers;

inner coats white or pink, cells obscure, quadrate.

persistent, green at anthesis, 3–5, basally sheathing, sheaths never extending much above soil level;

blade solid, flat, channeled, 14–35 cm × 1–5 mm, margins ± entire.

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

blade solid, flat, 15–40 cm × 3–5 mm, margins entire.

persistent, solitary, erect, or, if nodding at anthesis, becoming erect, solid, terete or ± 4-angled, particularly distally, 20–50 cm × 1–3.5 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 15–40 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, nodding, becoming erect, ± loose, 9–40-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 2–4-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

persistent, erect, loose, 15–35-flowered, ± globose, bulbils unknown;

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

stellate, 5–8 mm;

tepals spreading, deep pink, elliptic-lanceolate, ± equal, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acute, midribs not thickened;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary conspicuously crested;

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

style exserted, linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 0–20 mm.

stellate, 7–12 mm;

tepals spreading, pink or less commonly white, ovate to elliptic, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, not carinate, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate, not involute;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 6, prominent, central, triangular, short, margins minutely denticulate;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 10–20 mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat dull;

cells each with minute, central papilla.

= 14.

= 14.