Rhizomes creeping, slender, tough. Roots reddish maroon, long, slender, tough. Leaves linear or narrowly so, 4--10 cm × 2--5 mm, veins 2--4, base surrounded by yellow-brown, persistent sheaths and fibers, apex long acuminate. Flowering stems barely emerging above ground, with 2 or 3 linear leaves at base; spathes 2, narrowly lanceolate, 4--7 cm × 5--8 mm, 1-flowered, apex long acuminate. Flowers violet, 3.5--4 cm in diam.; pedicel ca. 1 cm. Perianth tube 5--7 cm, slender; outer segments spreading, obovate, ca. 3 × 0.8--1.2 cm; inner segments erect or inclined outward, oblong, narrowed into slender claw, ca. 2.5 cm × 8 mm. Stamens ca. 1.5 cm; anthers shorter than filaments. Ovary ca. 1 cm. Style branches ca. 2 cm. Capsule globose. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Jun--Aug. 2 n = 32.