Varietatis gibbsii similis sed pedicelli longiores bracteolas superantes, cap sula basim versus angustior, plantae plerumque majores.

Roots swollen proximally in fusiform shape. Leaves erecto-patent but often flaccid, narrow (occasionally to 10 mm wide but usually much less), tapering gradually to subacute tip; sheath-fibres sometimes persisting but forming setose bristles; peduncle slender, often flexuose, shorter than leaves at flower, elongating in fruit, always longer than inflorescence, usually much longer; raceme short and broad, elongating in fruit but even then length usually only c.2 × diameter; bracteoles short with wide sheathing base, hiding young buds but in fruit much shorter than pedicel; flowers (rarely more than 30), very laxly arranged; pedicels long, spreading, often bent slightly at the tip so that flowers face upwards; perianth yellow, becoming shrivelled and discoloured and pendent from base of ripe capsule; flowers bisexual; filaments more than half tepal length, the outer three slightly shorter than the inner three; ovary yellow-green, becoming greener as flower matures, deeply and subevenly 6-furrowed, supported by definite gynophore of similar colour; style narrow, about as long as ovary diameter; capsule globose on distinct gynophore; seeds brown, smooth, without wing, the outer edges rounded.

Folia angusta, erecto-patentia, saepe flaccida, vaginis vetusfis non setosis; pedunculus quam inflorescentia semper longior, plerumque multo longior; racemus laxus, pauciflorus; pedicelli longi, bracteolas ovatas superantes; perianthium flavum, marcescens, diu persistens; ovarium 6-sulcatum, quam stylis vix longius; capsula subglobosa basi in stipitem attenuata; semina haud alaia.

Roots swollen proximally in fusiform shape. Leaves spreading widely, often horizontally disposed, rounded abaxially, slightly channelled adaxially, narrow, tip subacute; sheath not developing setose bristles; peduncle very short, scarcely emerging from leaf-sheaths, rarely exceeding raceme length; raceme scarely longer than wide, elongating little in fruit; bracteoles about equal to pedicel with broad, pale, membranous sheathing base and short green acute tip, covering young buds but in fruit almost hidden; flowers densely crowded, pedicels short, spreading, hardly visible; perianth yellow but the nerve in each segment green externally, becoming shrivelled, discoloured and tangled at base of ripe capsule; flowers bisexual; filaments more than half tepal length, slightly flattened; ovary green, deeply 6-furrowed, sup ported by a definite gynophore of paler colour; style conical, 3-grooved, much shorter than ovary; capsule globose on distinct gynophore; seeds brown, smooth, without wing, the outer edges rounded. Typical dimensions of plants seen: total height—2-9 cm; diameter of plant—9-40 cm; longest leaf—5-25 cm long; widest leaf—3-7 mm wide, raceme at flower—1-2.5 × c. 1.5 cm; raceme at fruit—c. 2.5 × 2 cm; pedicel—4-10 mm long; perianth diameter—7-1 lmm; ovary—c. 2 × 1.5 mm; capsule (length including gynophore)—5.5-7 × 3.5-6.5mm; seed— c. 3.5 mm long.

Folia angusta, patentia vel saepe decumbentia nee tamen flaccida, vaginis vetustis non setosis; pedunculus brevissimus, quam brevis inflorescentia brevior; racemus densiflorus; pedicelli breves, bracteolas latas membranaceas aequantes; perianthium flavum, marcescens, diu persistens; ovarium 6-sulcatum, quam stylus perspicue longius; capsula subglobosa basi in stipitem attenuata; semina haud alata.