Flora of North America species comparison

rhizomatous, occasionally branching dichotomously at 120° from main axis, 2.4–2.8 × 5.2–8.6 cm, 0.3–0.5 times taller than long, 2–3 years’ growth evident as annual bulbs, scaleless sections between these 0.3–2.5 cm;

scales unsegmented, longest 1.1–1.9 cm;

stem roots absent or sometimes present.

rhizomatous, often branching, 1.4–2.9 × 9.6–18 cm, 0.1–0.3 times taller than long, 3–4 years’ growth evident as annual bulbs, older growth often with perpendicular thin branches leading to small new bulbs and always with noticeable abscission scars, youngest 3 years’ growth bearing basal leaves, scaleless sections between annual bulbs 2.7–5.4 cm;

scales unsegmented, longest 1–2 cm;

stem roots present or absent.

0.6–1.6 m. Buds ± triangular in cross section.

to 2 m. Buds ± triangular in cross section.

often concentrated proximally, occasionally scattered, usually in 1–12 whorls or partial whorls, 3–11(–15) leaves per whorl, barely to moderately ascending proximally, drooping at tips or not, ascending and appressed distally, 2.3–10.3(–12.2) × 0.8–2.4 cm, 1.6–7.6(–10.3) times longer than wide;

blade narrowly elliptic, margins not undulate, apex acute, barely acuminate on distal leaves;

veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.

in 1–5 whorls or partial whorls, 3–10 leaves per whorl, ascending, sometimes only slightly, or occasionally ± horizontal and drooping slightly at tips, 3.1–15.7 × 0.5–3.6 cm, 2.1–9.3 times longer than wide;

blade weakly to sometimes narrowly oblanceolate, occasionally obovate, elliptic, or narrowly elliptic, margins not undulate, apex acute, acuminate in distal leaves;

central vein in particular impressed adaxially, veins and margins often somewhat roughened abaxially with tiny ± deltoid epidermal spicules.

racemose, 1–7-flowered.

umbellate or rarely racemose, 1–4-flowered.

pendent, not fragrant;

perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;

sepals and petals reflexed 1/5–1/4 along length from base, yellow (occasionally pale yellow or yellow-orange) proximally, red-orange or dusky red (occasionally magenta, pinkish, pale orange, or red) distally, spotted magenta, not distinctly clawed, nectaries exposed, forming visible green star (or triangle, when only sepal nectaries are exposed);

sepals with 2 parallel, often faint abaxial ridges, 6.7–8.9 × 1.1–1.7 cm;

petals 6.3–8.7 × 1.5–2.2 cm;

stamens strongly exserted;

filaments parallel at first, then widely spreading, diverging 12°–28° from axis;

anthers magenta or sometimes purple, 1.1–1.8 cm;

pollen rust;

pistil 3.4–6.4 cm;

ovary 1.5–2.8 cm;

style pale green, often spotted purple;

pedicel 6.8–16.5 cm.

pendent, not fragrant;

perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;

sepals and petals reflexed less than 1/5 along length from base, yellow-orange or yellow, sometimes orange-yellow, often suffused with red distally, spotted maroon, often nearly to apex, not distinctly clawed, nectaries exposed, forming visible green star;

sepals with 2 parallel, often faint abaxial ridges, 6.2–10.2 × 1.1–1.8 cm;

petals 6.1–10 × 1.2–2.2 cm;

stamens strongly exserted;

filaments parallel along much of length, then widely spreading, diverging 14°–31° from axis;

anthers magenta, 1–1.6 cm;

pollen rust or sometimes rust-orange;

pistil 4.7–6.8 cm;

ovary 1.5–2.5 cm;

style very pale green, often spotted purple near apex;

pedicel 10–23 cm.

2.8–4.7 × 1.5–1.9 cm, 1.7–2.8 times longer than wide.

2.5–5 × 1.7–3 cm, 1.2–2.2 times longer than wide.

not counted.

not counted.