Bulbs 1–5+, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 0.6–1 cm × 6–10 mm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown to gray-brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells arranged in ± vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers; inner coats white, cells not visible or arranged in vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern, ± transversely elongate. Leaves persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, subterete or ± channeled, straight to arcuate, 8–30 cm × 1–3 mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 12–45 cm × 1–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, 5–35-flowered, hemispheric to conic, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–6-veined, lance-ovate to ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers campanulate, 8–15 mm; tepals erect, reddish purple, lanceolate to elliptic, unequal, outer tepals longer and wider than inner, becoming rigid and ± carinate in fruit, margins entire or inner minutely denticulate, never crisped, apex acute or short-acuminate, inner tepals spreading at tip, outer ± recurved; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 3, central, 2-lobed, minute, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed to distinctly 3-lobed; pedicel 8–40 mm. Seed coat dull; cells minutely roughened.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): w United States; Mexico (Baja California).