Bulbs usually solitary, without basal bulbels, ovoid, 1–1.8 × 1–1.2 cm; outer coats enclosing single bulb, grayish, reticulate, cells fine-meshed, open, fibrous; inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate, regular. Leaves persistent, withering by anthesis, 2, sheathing; blade solid, flat, linear, 12–35 cm × 3–6 mm, margins entire or denticulate. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, terete or ± 3–4-angled, 20–40 cm × 1–3.5 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, 10–25-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 5–7-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers ± stellate, 7–9 mm; tepals spreading to reflexed, white to pinkish or purple, lanceolate, ± equal, remaining thin and becoming strongly reflexed in fruit, margins entire, apex acute; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary conspicuously crested; processes 6, central, irregularly contorted; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely 3-lobed; pedicel 14–45 mm. Seed coat shining; cells each with obscure, central papilla. 2n = 14.

Flowering May--early Jun. On granitic “flat-rocks” of Piedmont and in sand on coastal plains; 0--300 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.