Bulb solitary or paired, subcylindric, 0.5--0.8 cm in diam.; tunic grayish brown, reticulate. Leaves linear, shorter than scape, 3--5 mm wide, flat, margin scabrous-denticulate. Scape (40--)50--80 cm, terete, covered with leaf sheaths for 1/3--1/2 its length. Spathe usually persistent. Umbel globose, densely many flowered. Pedicels subequal, straight, 1--2 × as long as perianth, not slender, bracteolate. Perianth dark rose pink to pale purple-red; segments usually with dark purple midvein, elliptic, 4--5 × 2--2.3 mm, apex rounded. Filaments slightly shorter than to equaling perianth segments, connate at base and adnate to perianth segments; outer ones subulate; inner ones broadened at base, with 1 short, rounded tooth on each side, teeth very rarely with 2 rounded teeth at apex. Ovary obovoid-globose, with concave nectaries at base. Style exserted; stigma usually subcapitate. Fl. Jun. 2 n = 32*, 40, 48.

Stony slopes, cliffs; 400--1500 m. NW Gansu, Nei Mongol, Xinjiang (Altay Shan, Tian Shan) [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia; Europe].