Rhizomes knobbly. Leaves grayish green, linear, 5--25 cm × 2--3 mm, midvein absent, base surrounded by maroon-brown fibers. Flowering stems not emerging above ground; spathes 3, green, lanceolate, 6--10 × 0.6--1.8 cm, 1- or 2-flowered. Flowers violet, 4.5--5 cm in diam. Perianth tube filiform, 3--6 cm; outer segments narrowly oblanceolate, limb spreading, 3--3.5 cm × 5--8 mm; inner segments narrowly oblanceolate, ca. 3 cm × 4 mm. Stamens 1.8--2 cm. Ovary ca. 1.5 cm. Style branches ca. 2.5 cm × 3 mm. Capsule not seen. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Jun--Aug.

* Sunny grasslands, mountainsides, loess hills; 2500--3100 m. SW Gansu, NE Qinghai.