Plants 30-150 cm. Corms sub-globose. Stems puberulent (at least distally, sometimes glabrous proximally). Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, elliptic- to oblanceolate-spatulate, 120-300 × 25-50(-55) mm, abruptly, gradually, or little reduced distally, essentially glabrous, weakly, if at all, gland-dotted. Heads in racemiform arrays. Peduncles usually (ascending) 10-50 mm. Involucres campanulate to turbinate-campanulate, 11-15 × (12-)15-22(-25) mm. Phyllaries in (3-)4-5 series, (erect or outer sometimes spreading-reflexing) oblong-obovate to broadly obovate (not bullate), unequal, glabrous or minutely puberulent, margins usually with relatively narrow, hyaline borders, apices broadly rounded. Florets 19-80; corolla tubes usually pilose inside, sometimes glabrous (Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri). Cypselae 4.5-6(-6.5) mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.