Plants simple or cespitose, erect, acaulescent, scapose, rosulate, monocarpic or polycarpic; rosettes solitary or in colonies. Leaf blades linear, rarely narrowly lanceolate, widest at base, tapering to apex, glaucous, somewhat flexible when young, rigid at maturity, margins pale yellow, mostly denticulate, corneous, apex distinctly spinose. Scape well developed, extending beyond rosettes, usually more than 2.5 cm in diam., glabrous. Inflorescences paniculate, cylindrical, bracteate, glabrous; rachis and peduncle reddish purple; bracts reflexed, deltate, abruptly narrowing to linear, sharp-pointed apex. Flowers bisexual; perianth campanulate or globose; tepals distinct, white or creamy white to greenish or purple-tinged, broadly lanceolate, 3.2–4.5(–6) cm; filaments ca. 1.3 cm, equal to or longer than pistil, papillose; anthers reniform; pistil 1–1.3 × 0.6–1 cm; ovary superior; style white, 2–3 mm; stigmas green, capitate. Fruits erect, capsular, obovoid, 3–5 × 1.5–4 cm, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds many per locule, dull black, thin, flattened, 6–8 mm diam. x = 30.
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