Bulbs densely clustered, cylindric, 0.5--1 cm in diam.; tunic yellowish brown to dark chestnut brown, subreticulate to reticulate. Leaves shorter than scape, ca. 1 mm wide, semiterete, margin scabrous-denticulate, rarely smooth. Scape 15--35 cm, terete, covered with leaf sheaths only at base. Spathe 2- or 3-valved, persistent. Umbel hemispheric, densely many flowered. Pedicels 1--1.5 × as long as perianth, bracteolate, rarely ebracteolate. Perianth purple-red to pale purple-red; segments with red midvein; outer ones ovate to narrowly so, 6--8.5 × 2.5--3 mm; inner ones oblong-ovate, slightly longer than outer ones. Filaments equal, slightly shorter than perianth segments, connate at base for 1/3--1/2 their length, adnate to perianth segments for 1/3--1/2 of connate part; outer ones subulate; inner ones broadened at base, 1-toothed on each side. Ovary ovoid, without concave nectaries at base. Style longer than ovary, exserted. Fl. and fr. Jun--Aug.

* Sunny and dry slopes. Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai.