Flora of North America species comparison

solitary, ± erect, flexuous.

few, mostly basal, sheathing;

blade linear, obscurely scabrous.

maturing acropetally, usually paniculate (racemose in small plants), many-flowered;

floral bracts usually 1, minute, with adaxial bractlet near middle.

ascending;

perianth tardily deciduous;

tepals 6, connate basally into tube, limb lobes sharply reflexed, strongly veined;

stamens 6, opposite tepals and inserted on throat, alternating with 6 short staminodia, the abaxial 1 opposite a tepal standing alone and opposing 5 aggregate adaxial tepals;

filaments narrowly subulate;

anthers basifixed, dehiscent through apical pores;

pistil 1, compound, 3-lobed, 3-locular;

ovary superior, globose, ovules 2 per locule, ascending, only 1 developing;

style deciduous, 1, filiform, slightly 3-fid;

stigmas 3;

pedicels shorter than flowers.

capsular, apex loculicidal, valvate;

valves 3, obovoid.

3, obovoid;

testa dark brown, close, thin, slightly rugose.

= 10.