Roots 2-80 cm, tuberlike or fibrous, dry or fleshy; buds often less than 3 mm. Stems 1-8(-19) per root; base firmly attached to root or not. Leaves cauline and/or in basal rosette, gradually or abruptly reduced into bracts. Flowers: sepals blue, purple, white, red, or yellow; lower petal blades often same color as lateral sepals, usually greater than 1/5 length of lateral sepals (exceptions in red- and yellow-flowered species).