Herbs small, perennial, cormous. Corms oblate, covered with a tunic. Leaves few, all basal, green, linear, adaxially with pale, median stripe, base surrounded by membranous, sheathlike leaves. Aerial stem not developed. Flowers emerging from ground, with peduncle and ovary subterranean. Perianth white, yellow, or lilac to dark purple; tube long, slender; segments similar, equal or subequal. Stamens inserted in throat of perianth tube. Style 1, slender, distally with 3 to many branches. Capsule small, ellipsoid or oblong-ellipsoid.

About 80 species: C and W Asia, Europe, Mediterranean region; two species (one introduced) in China.