Bulbs clustered, narrowly ovoid to ovoid-cylindric, 0.5--1 cm in diam.; tunic usually 1-valved, pale brown, leathery, entire or splitting, apex laciniate. Leaves 2 or 3, hairlike, shorter than to subequaling scape, 0.2--0.3 mm wide. Scape 5--10 cm, terete, covered with leaf sheaths only at base. Spathe 2-valved, persistent; beak very short. Umbel laxly few flowered. Pedicels subequal, 1--2 × as long as perianth, bracteolate. Perianth pale red to red; segments with purple midvein, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 5--7 × 1.2--1.6 mm, apex obtuse. Filaments subequal, ca. 2/3 as long as perianth segments, connate at base and adnate to perianth segments for 1/3--1/2 their length, base triangular, free part subulate; inner ones wider than outer. Ovary ellipsoid-globose, with concave nectaries covered by hoodlike projections at base. Style not exserted. Fl. and fr. Jun--Aug. 2 n = 16.

Calcareous slopes, deserts; 400--1000 m. NW Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia].