Bulbs 1-5, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid, 1.5-2 × 1.2-2 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown to yellow-brown, membranous, ± prominently cellular-reticulate, cells in regular vertical rows, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, without fibers; inner coats white, cells obscure, transversely elongate. Leaves usually deciduous with scape, withering from tip at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, falcate, 7-26 cm × 4-6 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, 10-15 cm × 1-3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, ± compact, 15-35-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 10-13-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acute. Flowers stellate, 8-12 mm; tepals spreading, light pink with diffuse greenish midveins, linear-lanceolate, ± equal, papery, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acute; stamens ± equaling tepals; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 6, central, rounded, minute, margins entire; style linear, 0.5 times stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 15-30 mm. Seed coats dull; cells smooth. 2n = 14.

Flowering Apr--May. Heavy, generally barren, clay soils; 1200--1600 m; Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg.