Leaf blade dull green, to 1(-2) mm wide. Spathe 2.1-3.1 cm. Flowers erect to slightly inclined; perianth yellow, funnelform, 2.1-2.8 cm; perianth tube green, 0.2-0.6 cm, increasing in diam., no more than 1/4 perianth length, ca. 1/2 (1/4-3/4) filament length, no more than 1/4 spathe length; tepals rarely reflexed; stamens diverging, in 2 distinctly unequal sets; filaments filiform, 0.7-1.1 cm; anthers in 2 nonoverlapping sets, 3-6 mm; style longer than perianth tube; stigma 3-fid, usually among anthers; pedicel 0.7-1.5 cm, shorter than spathe. 2n = 48. Flowering late spring--summer (May--Aug). Sandy, gravelly, calcareous, alkaline soils in highlands; 40--2400 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico.

Plant: Perennial forb from bulb Leaves: leaves narrow, onion-like, somewhat fleshy, subtended by spathelike bract Flowers: flowering stems scapose.