Bulbs 1-5, without basal bulbels, ovoid, 1-1.8 × 0.7-1.5 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, reticulate, cells fine-meshed, mostly closed in proximal 1/2 of bulb, fibrous; inner coats whitish or brownish, cells intricately contorted, walls usually not sinuous. Leaves persistent, green at anthesis, 2-5, sheathing; blade solid, flat, channeled, 10-30 cm × 1-3(-5) mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, terete, 10-30 cm × 1-3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact to ± loose, usually 10-25-flowered, hemispheric-globose, rarely replaced by bulbils; spathe bracts persistent, 2-3, 1-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers campanulate to ± stellate, 6-9 mm; tepals spreading, white, pink, or red, rarely greenish yellow, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery and rigid in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse or acute, midribs somewhat thickened; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen light yellow; ovary crestless; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely lobed; pedicel 5-20 mm. Seed coat shining; cells each usually with minute, central papilla. 2n = 14, 28.

Flowering Mar--Jun. Plains, hills, and prairies, particularly in limestone soils; 0--1600 m; Ark., Kans., Neb., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.; Mexico.