Roots elongate, thick, fleshy. Bulbs clustered, cylindric; tunic membranous, entire. Leaves linear to broadly so, shorter than to subequaling scape, 0.5--1 cm wide, midvein distinct. Scape lateral, usually arising from base of bulb, (10--)20--60 cm, usually without leaf sheaths, sometimes with 1. Spathe 2-valved, usually deciduous. Umbel hemispheric to globose, many flowered. Pedicels subequal, 2--3(--4) × as long as perianth, ebracteolate. Perianth white or greenish yellow to yellow; segments similar, lanceolate, 4--7.5 × 1--1.5 mm, apex acuminate, sometimes unequally 2-lobed. Filaments subulate, slightly shorter than to subequaling perianth segments, connate at base and adnate to perianth segments. Ovary obovoid, smooth, base constricted into a short stipe; ovules 1 per locule. Style longer than ovary; stigma punctiform. Fl. and fr. Jul--Oct. 2 n = 22*, 44*.

Forests, forest margins, moist places, meadows; 1400--4200 m. SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka].