Bulbs 1-5+, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid, 1.5-2.2 × 1-2 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, membranous, ± prominently cellular-reticulate, cells in ± regular vertical rows, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, without fibers; inner coats white to light brown, cells ± narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, or quadrate. Leaves usually deciduous with scape, green or withering only at tip at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, falcate, 8-30 cm × 3-5 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, flattened, narrowly winged, 15-20 cm × 1-4 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact to ± loose, 10-40-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2-3, 8-10-veined, broadly lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, apex long-acuminate. Flowers campanulate, 6-9 mm; tepals erect, pink to whitish, lance-ovate, ± equal, becoming ± rigid in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate; stamens ± equaling tepals; anthers light purple to yellow; pollen yellow; ovary obscurely crested; processes 6, low, central, 2 per lobe, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 8-16 mm. Seed coat dull; cells smooth. 2n = 14.

Flowering May--Jun. Drying, clay soils; 1200--1900 m; Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Utah.