Bulbs usually solitary, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid, 1.5-2.5 × 1-1.5 cm; outer coats enclosing single bulb, brown or grayish, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2-3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats white, 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, 8-33 cm × 1-10 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, 2-20 cm × 1-3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact, 8-20(-30)-flowered, globose to conic, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 3, 9-13-veined, broadly ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acuminate. Flowers conical to campanulate, 7-10 mm; tepals strictly erect, dull purplish with darker midveins, ovate, ± equal, becoming membranous, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens equaling tepals or ± exserted; filaments smooth proximally; anthers purple; pollen yellow or gray; ovary crestless or crested; processes 6, central, rounded, minute, margins entire; style linear, slightly longer than stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 6-10 mm. Seed coat shining; cells smooth. 2n = 14.

Flowering late Apr--Jul. Granite sands, on dry slopes and ridges; 1800--2800 m; Calif.