Plants 50–90(–150) cm. Corms tunicate, 10–20 mm diam.; tunics ± woody, broken into segments proximally and distally. Stems simple. Leaves 3, basal longest, usually ± reaching middle of stem, sheathing in lower 1/2, distalmost 2 leaves largely to entirely sheathing; blade cruciform in cross section, 2–3 mm diam. Spikes 2–4 (–8)-flowered, secund; sheaths sometimes flushed grayish purple, subequal, 30–40 mm, inner slightly shorter than to ± equaling outer. Flowers strongly scented of carnations and cloves in evening; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 45–50 mm, narrow cylindrical section ca. 25 mm; tepals white to cream, with darker greenish yellow or purple on midlines, margins transparent in lower 10 mm, especially between dorsal and inner lateral tepals, lanceolate, unequal, dorsal inclined to ± horizontal, 22–25 × 16 mm, outer tepals fused with inner lateral tepals for ca. 2 mm, ± straight and directed forward, or gently curving outward in distal 1/2, ca. 22 × 10 mm; filaments ca. 20 mm, included in tube; anthers ca. 12 mm, partly included in tube; style branching opposite distal 1/3 of anthers; branches ca. 6 mm, reaching beyond anthers. Capsules oblong-ellipsoid, 34–36 mm. Seeds broadly winged, 5 × 4 mm.

Flowering mostly Mar--Apr. Roadsides, grassy banks; 800 m; introduced; Calif.; s Africa.