Plants 2-7 dm, from bulbs; bulbs not clumped, tunicate, ovoid, 18-40 × 12-35 mm. Leaves: proximal blades 15-35 cm × 3-15 mm. Inflorescences paniculate, 10-80-flowered, narrow, terminal raceme pyramidal in anthesis, 2-30 × 2-4 cm, proximal branches usually less than 6 cm, 1/10-1/2 length of entire inflorescence, diverging from main axis at 10°-60° when in fruit. Flowers: perianth hypogynous, campanulate, 5-10 mm diam.; tepals persistent in fruit, cream colored, ovate, 2-5 × 1-4 mm, outer usually not clawed, apex usually acute; gland 1, obovate, distal margins evident to obscure, irregular; filaments straight, usually equaling tepals, occasionally longer, thickened proximally; pedicel ascending to perpendicular to stem in fruit, 3-25 mm, bracts green, lanceolate, 5-15 mm. Capsules 5-20 × 3-8 mm. 2n = 22. Flowering Apr--Jun. Sagebrush desert, dry open inland grasslands; 1300--2600 m; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.