Bulbs usually solitary, not clustered on stout primary rhizomes, ovoid, 1.5-2.5 × 1-1.5 cm; outer coats enclosing single bulb, brown or gray, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2-3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats white or pink, cells not visible. Leaves usually deciduous with scape, withering from tip at anthesis, 1, basally sheathing, sheath not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat or broadly channeled, ± falcate, 10-22 cm × 4-8 mm, margins entire. Scape usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 5-10 cm × 0.5-2 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact, 10-40-flowered, globose to conic, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 3-4, 3-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers conical to campanulate, 8-10 mm; tepals strictly erect, pink to purplish with prominent greenish midvein, linear-lanceolate, ± equal, becoming membranous, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acuminate; stamens exserted; filaments papillose-glandular proximally; anthers purple; pollen yellow or gray; ovary crested; processes 6, obscure, central, low, rounded, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, obscurely 3-lobed; pedicel 8-15 mm. Seed coat dull; cells smooth. 2n = 14.

Flowering Jun--Jul. Serpentine clay; 1100--1800 m; Calif.