Plants 20-65 cm. Corms globose or subglobose. Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, linear to linear-lanceolate, 70-150 × 1-2.5 mm, abruptly or gradually reduced on distal ¹/2 of stems, essentially glabrous (margins sometimes sparsely ciliate). Heads (closely spaced, stems obscured) in dense, (cylindric) spiciform arrays. Peduncles 0. Involucres cylindro-turbinate, 9-12 × 3.5-5 mm. Phyllaries in 2-3 series, (often dark purple in anthesis) oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate-triangular, weakly unequal, essentially glabrous, margins without hyaline borders, sometimes sparsely ciliate, apices acute to acute-attenuate (sometimes with narrow tips). Florets 3-4(-5); corolla tubes glabrate inside. Cypselae 4.5-6 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose.

Flowering mid Jul-Aug(-Sep). Shallow soils over limestone outcrops, slopes, bases of slopes, usually with yucca; 100-400 m; Okla., Tex.