Bulb cylindric to narrowly ovoid-cylindric, 0.5--1(--1.5) cm in diam.; tunic red-brown to brown, thinly leathery, usually laciniate. Leaves shorter than scape, 1.5--4 mm wide, terete, fistulose. Scape 20--50 cm, terete, fistulose, covered with leaf sheaths only at base. Spathe 2-valved, persistent. Umbel globose, densely many flowered. Pedicels subequal, slightly shorter than to 1.5 × as long as perianth, ebracteolate. Perianth yellow to pale yellow; segments ovate-oblong, 5--6.5 × 2--3 mm; inner ones slightly longer than outer. Filaments subulate, equal, 1.3--2 × as long as perianth segments, connate at base and adnate to perianth segments. Ovary obovoid, without concave nectaries at base. Style exserted. Fl. and fr. Jul--Sep. 2 n = 16*.

* Slopes, plains; 2000--4500 m. Gansu, W Hubei, E Qinghai, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan.