Leaves (1-)2-5(-15) mm wide, soft, flexible, essentially glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent. Scape (4-)5-17(-25) cm. Inflorescences umbellate, 1-5(-7)-flowered; proximal 2 flowers, when present, always paired; bracts (1-)2-10(-17) mm. Flowers: tepals (3-)6-10(-17) × 2-4 (-5) mm, shorter than pedicel, much longer than ovary; anthers 1.5-3.5(-4) mm; ovary obconic, (1-)2-4 × (1-)2-4 mm, densely pubescent; pedicel (6-)9-25(-30) mm, usually 2+ times longer than bracts. Seeds black, lustrous, (0.9-)1-1.5(-1.7) mm, coarsely muricate. Flowering spring--summer. Wet to dry woodlands and prairies; 0--1700 m; Man., Ont., Sask.; Ala., Ark., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis. Very rarely, specimens of Hypoxis hirsuta have cylindrical ovaries and/or bracts nearly equaling the pedicels. These specimens are recognized by the umbelliform inflorescence typical of H. hirsuta. The condition appears to be pathological and is associated with a lack of seed development.