Root tuberous, sub-napiform, fibres few, thick, descending. Stem erect, 6 in.–2 1/2 ft. high, simple, cylindrical, more or less purplish, papillose throughout, or sometimes glabrous in the lower portion. Radical leaves 3–6 in. long, linear-lanceolate, acute or subacute, fleshy, erect, glabrous; stem-leaves 1–3 in. long, connate in an elongate sheath nearly an inch long, often somewhat glaucous, broadly linear or oblong or even subcordate, obtuse; bracts foliaceous; margins of leaves and bracts fimbriate-papillose. Flowers numerous, small, “white or purple,” star-like when expanded, shortly pedicellate, in much-branched spreading rounded panicles, or in densely congested many-flowered cymes arranged in a compound corymb 2–4 in. broad. Calyx-lobes glabrous, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, acute or subacute. Petals oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, free or subconnate at the base, scarcely twice as long as the calyx. Stamens equalling or rather shorter than the petals. Squamulæ very small, truncate, cuneate-obcordate. Carpels smooth, oblong, acuminate.
