Bulb ovoid, 1-1.25 cm in diameter, offsets may or may not be present, tunic dark reddish brown. Leaves 3-6, linear to lanceolate, 5-35 x 0.2-0.7 cm. Scape 5-25 cm, raceme 1-4 cm. Fertile flowers: pedicels 1-5 mm, perianth 3-7 mm, fragrant, ovoid to oblong-urceolate, constricted distally, dark blue. Stamens biseriate, at or above the middle of the tube. Capsule 7-9 x 8-10 mm, broadly ovate to orbicular, tip rounded or shortly emarginated. Sterile flowers: Pedicel 0.5-3 mm, flowers up to 20, smaller and paler than fertile ones.

Fl.Per.: March-May.

Holotype: [Italy, Calabria] in cultis passim, tam in elatioribus quam in demissis da Castel di Sangro a Reggio [Gussone] (NAP).

Distribution: N. Africa, Europe to Southern Central Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria,Caucasia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan (Baluchistan).

A very polymorphic species.