Bulbs 1-5+, usually clustered, often short-rhizomatous at base, rhizome not stout or iris-like, ovoid, 2-4 × 1-2.5 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, grayish or brownish, membranous, fibers parallel, few, or sometimes reticulate, cells obscure, finely meshed; inner coats whitish to pinkish, cells obscure, ± quadrate. Leaves persistent, green at anthesis, 3-5, basally sheathing, sheaths never extending much above soil level; blade solid, flat, channeled, 14-35 cm × 1-5 mm, margins ± entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, or, if nodding at anthesis, becoming erect, solid, terete or ± 4-angled, particularly distally, 20-50 cm × 1-3.5 mm. Umbel persistent, nodding, becoming erect, ± loose, 9-40-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 2-4-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers stellate, 5-8 mm; tepals spreading, deep pink, elliptic-lanceolate, ± equal, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acute, midribs not thickened; stamens exserted; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary conspicuously crested; processes 6, distinct, flattened, ± triangular, margins entire or toothed; style exserted, linear, ± equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 0-20 mm. Seed coat dull; cells minutely roughened. 2n = 14. Flowering Jul--Oct. Often on calcareous soils; 300--2200 m; Man., Ont., Sask.; Ark., Ill., Iowa, Kans., Mich., Minn., Mo., Nebr., N.Dak., Okla., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Wis.