Herbs perennial, cormous. Corms covered with a tunic. Leaves basal, linear. Flowering stem with a few leaves at base. Inflorescences terminal, umbellate, racemose, or sometimes paniculate, 2- to several flowered, often with 1--3 additional flowers in basal leaf axil of flowering stem. Flowers pedicellate. Perianth segments free, sometimes proximally with a pseudotube formed by laxly connivent segments, or connate proximally into a true tube. Stamens in 2 whorls, inserted at base of perianth; filament linear to subfiliform; anther basifixed or dorsifixed, erect. Ovary subclavate, with many ovules. Style filiform; stigma 3-lobed. Fruit a capsule, oblong-clavate, 3-valved. Seeds black, ovoid-oblong, small.

About three species: C and SW Asia, NE Africa (Egypt); two species (one endemic) in China.