Leaves 9-40 cm × 2-10 mm. Scape 10-30 cm, smooth except weakly scabrous near base. Flowers: perianth bright yellow or pale blue, 12-19 mm, tube attenuate at base, 5-10 mm, lobes widely spreading, striped greenish, 5-11 mm; stamens attached alternately at 2 levels, unequal, those of proximal row very short; filaments linear or barely wider at base, 1 or 3 mm, apical appendages absent; anthers yellow or blue, 1-2 mm; ovary green, equal to or longer than stipe; pedicel 0.7-2 cm, usually shorter than perianth. 2n = 16.

Flowering spring (May--Jun). Open conifer/yellow pine forests, dry slopes; 1200--2200 m; Calif., Oreg.

Plants of Triteleia crocea from the Trinity Mountains of northern California differ from others of the species in having pale blue perianths instead of yellow ones, with lobes slightly fringed toward the apex instead of entire. These plants first were assigned to a separate species, and subsequently have been transferred to this one, where clearly they belong. Formal recognition at subspecific rank may prove desirable in future.