Bulbs slender, 25-40 mm. Leaves 6-15 cm; blade green, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, margins ± wavy. Scape 7-20 cm. Inflorescences 1-6-flowered. Flowers: tepals white, bright yellow on proximal 1/3, pinkish purple in age, lanceolate, 10-20 mm, not auriculate at base; stamens 8-12 mm; filaments yellow, slender; anthers cream to yellow; style yellow, 4-5 mm; stigma ± unlobed. Capsules obovoid, 2-4 cm.

Flowering summer, soon after snowmelt (Jun--Aug). Open coniferous forests, meadows, rocky places; 1500--2700 m; Calif.