1 Perianth white, the external (back) side of the tepals (especially the outer tepals) often suffused with gray or violet externally.

..2 Tepals strongly reflexed at anthesis; leaf blade mottled, 1.3-4.0 cm wide, flat or nearly so; capsules held erect; [usually of mesic forests]

..2 Tepals spreading at anthesis (or the outer somewhat reflexed); leaf blade usually unmottled, 0.5-2.0 cm wide, folded and V-shaped in ×-section; capsules resting on the ground; [usually of dry or dry-mesic woodlands, prairies, and glades]

1 Perianth primarily yellow (brown-spotted internally in some species), the external (back) side of the tepals (especially the outer tepals) often suffused with tan or brown.

....3 Petals (inner tepals) lacking auricles near their bases; capsule and ovary distinctly indented (umbilicate) at apex (or rarely truncate in E. umbilicatum ssp. monostolum, or the ovary when young not yet displaying the apical indentation); mature capsules usually reclining on ground, with the apex downward; stolons 0-1 per bulb; anthers usually lavender, brown, cinnamon, or purple (sometimes yellow).

......4 Horizontal stolons 1 per bulb; flecking on perianth segments slight to strong; perianth margins often slightly irregular (though not auricled); stigma lobes long; pale spot on adaxial side of perianth segments always present, small to large, usually pale yellow; [at high elevations in the Southern Appalachians]

......4 Horizontal stolons 0 per bulb; flecking on perianth segments absent to slight; perianth margins usually entire and smooth (rarely irregular); stigma lobes short; pale spot on adaxial side of perianth segments usually present, small to medium, usually white; [of lower to mid elevations, relatively widespread in our region, VA, WV, and KY south to GA, Panhandle FL, and AL]

....3 Petals (inner tepals) with auricles near their bases (the auricles small lobes, < 1 mm long, bent inwards); capsule and ovary truncate, rounded, apiculate, or beaked at apex; mature capsules usually held well off ground, the apex oriented horizontally or ascending; stolons usually (1-) 2-5 per bulb; anthers usually yellow (rarely brown or lavender).

........5 Capsule truncate, rounded, or apiculate at the apex; petals (inner tepals) with small auricles at the base, not clasping a filament.

..........6 Capsule apiculus absent or poorly developed

..........6 Capsule apiculus well developed