Erect or prostrate, annual or short-lived herb. Opposite leaves, simple, almost 7 cm long elliptic to lanceolate, mucronate at the apex. Terminal, sometimes axillary inflorescences; small heads, 3-9 mm across, radiated, 8-9 involucral bracts, imbricated; white flowers. Dorsiventrally compressed and precisely angled achene, slightly winged.

Bulbiferous herb with scales, dividing bulbs of up to 10 cm in diameter, tunicated. Basal leaves, up to 40 cm, hollow, semicircular in cross section. Scape of up to 60 cm in height. Abundant purple or almost white flowers, grouped in a large spherical umbel, with 2 to 3 bracts. Capsular fruit. Rarely produces seeds.