Perennial herb, geophyte, 0.1-0.3 m high; corm globose, asymmetric; tunics concentric, dark brown, outer layers becoming papery and soft; stem erect, simple or more often 2-5-branched. Leaves 3-5, usually erect, ensiform. Bracts herbaceous, becoming membranous above, margins usually reddish. Inflorescence a 3-7-flowered spike; flowers blue to purple, purple-pink or white to cream-coloured, stellate; perianth tube cylindric, reaching near bract apex; tepals 8-11 mm long, obovate. Stamens 4-6 mm long; anthers 3-4 mm long; pollen yellow. Ovary 2-3 mm long; style dividing at apex of anthers, branches recurved. Flowering time Sept.-Nov. Capsule obovoid.
Cormous geophyte, 10-30 cm, tunics woody, concentric. Leaves sword-shaped to linear, plane. Flowers several per spike, white or purple, tepals spreading.