Flora of North America species comparison

rhizomatous, usually branching, continuously scaly, 1.4–5.1 × 3.9–19 cm, 0.2–0.6 times taller than long;

scales sometimes unsegmented but always some 2–4-segmented on each bulb, longest 1–3.3 cm;

stem roots absent.

± ovoid, 3.6–7.5 × 2–5.2 cm, 0.9–2.4(–2.7) times taller than long;

scales unsegmented, longest 3.1–6.4 cm;

stem roots absent.

to 2.8 m, strongly clonal and thus forming dense colonies, to weakly clonal and forming small colonies or clumps.

to 2.1 m. Buds rounded in cross section.

rounded in cross section.

usually ± evenly distributed along stem, rarely concentrated proximally, scattered or in 1–6 whorls or partial whorls, 3–19 leaves per whorl, horizontal and drooping at tips to ascending, 4.9–26.5 × 0.3–5.6 cm, 3–34 times longer than wide;

blade usually ± elliptic, wide or narrow, margins usually not undulate, apex acute, often narrowly so;

veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.

in 2–7 whorls or partial whorls (scattered and ± proximal in dry, exposed sites), 3–22(–40) leaves per whorl, drooping at tips to ascending, 6–16 × 0.9–4.4 cm, 2.6–8.5 times longer than wide;

blade elliptic, usually narrowly so, often weakly oblanceolate, rarely obovate, margins undulate or not, apex acute;

veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.

racemose, 1–28(–35)-flowered.

racemose, 1–27-flowered.

pendent, usually not fragrant;

perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;

sepals and petals reflexed 1/4–1/3 along length from base, yellow, yellow-orange, or orange proximally, darker orange to red-orange to red on distal 1/5–3/5 (entirely orange or yellow-orange in subsp. wigginsii), with maroon spots concentrated proximally and always surrounded by yellow or orange if extending into distal reddish zone, conspicuously green abaxially on proximal ± 1/5, not distinctly clawed;

sepals not ridged abaxially, 3.5–10.4 × 0.9–2.2 cm;

petals 3.4–10.2 × 0.9–2.5 cm;

stamens moderately to strongly exserted;

filaments moderately to widely spreading, diverging 7°–22° from axis;

anthers ± magenta or sometimes orange, orange-pink, or pale yellow, 0.5–2.2 cm;

pollen red-brown, red-orange, brown-orange, rust, orange, or yellow;

pistil 3.1–7.5 cm;

ovary 1–2.2 cm;

style green, often pale, rarely sordid;

pedicel 6–32 cm.

pendent, fragrant;

perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;

sepals and petals reflexed 1/3 along length from base, pink, less often white, and if so usually aging pink, usually with copious maroon spots and proximal median longitudinal yellow stripe extending from basal nectaries, not distinctly clawed;

sepals darker pink abaxially and usually distally, not ridged abaxially, 3.4–7.2 × 0.9–1.7 cm;

petals 3.2–7.1 × 0.9–1.9 cm;

stamens moderately exserted;

filaments ± widely spreading, diverging 10°–22° from axis;

anthers pale red-orange or magenta, 0.5–1.4 cm;

pollen orange;

pistil 2.9–4.2 cm;

ovary 1.5–3 cm;

style green, often pale;

pedicel 8.8–23.8 cm.

2.2–5.7 × 1.2–2.1 cm, 1.5–3.7 times longer than wide.

2.9–5.7 × 1–1.6 cm, 2.2–3.7 times longer than wide.

123–264.

177–309.

= 24.