Plants small, often in patches, up to 3.5 cm. high. Rhizome not distinct; roots short, ± spongy, with elongated tubers, roots sometimes reduced to sessile or subsessile elongated tuberous structures. Leaves rosulate, ± prostrate, 1–4 to a plant, rarely more, oblanceolate, thinly membranous, glabrous, (2.5–)5–15 cm. long, (1.5–)3–10 cm. wide; margins crisped, in SW. Tanzania a form occurs with red ciliate margins. Peduncle reduced, up to 1(–3) cm. long. Inflorescence unbranched, dense, 2–5 cm. long. Pedicels apparently without articulation, 1–5 mm. long, several at each node. Perianth white; tepals 4–5 mm. long, ± 1 mm. wide, 3-veined. Stamens as long as the perianth; filaments fusiform and papillate, 2.5–5 mm. long, longer than the anthers. Ovary sessile, with ± 5 ovules per locule; style straight, as long as the stamens. Capsule shallowly deltoid, smooth, ± 4 mm. long, 3 mm. wide. Seeds slightly folded, saucer-shaped, ± 1.5 mm. in diameter. Fig. 11/2–5.