Flora of North America species comparison

1–3, borne on stout, ± horizontal rhizome, elongate, cylindric or conic, 0.5–1.5 × 0.7–2 cm;

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

inner coats white, cells closely parallel, elongate.

3–4, not clustered on stout, primary rhizomes, ovoid, asymmetric, 2.5–3 × 2–5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, light yellow to light brown, thin, papery, chartaceous, cells narrow, vertically elongate, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells narrow, vertically elongate.

withering from tip by anthesis, 2–5, sheathing scape to ± soil level;

blade solid, flat, carinate abaxially, 20–40 cm × 2–6 mm, margins entire.

usually persistent, 3–6, scarcely ensheathing scape even basally, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, broadly channeled, 10–60 cm × 10–25 mm, margins entire.

persistent, solitary, erect, terete, 30–50 cm × 1–3 mm.

usually persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, fistulose, 60–100 cm × 5–10 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 20–50-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 1–3, 3–7-veined, lance-ovate, shorter than pedicel, apex acuminate.

persistent, erect, compact, 75–150-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–4, 11+-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

substellate, 4–9 mm;

tepals spreading, white with green or brownish midveins, lanceolate to elliptic, ± equal, withering and exposing capsule, margins entire, apex obtuse or acute;

stamens included;

anthers purple;

pollen white;

ovary crestless;

style linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 10–30 mm.

stellate to subcampanulate, 6–9 mm;

tepals ± spreading, white with green midvein, narrowly oblong, ± equal, becoming ± rigid and reflexed in fruiting, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or purple, aborting without producing pollen;

ovary crestless;

style linear, ± equaling tepals;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, obscurely 3-lobed;

pedicel 25–40 mm.

coat shining;

cells smooth, irregularly shaped, with ± sinuous walls.

coat not known.