2n = 14

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.

Plant very slender, us. < 30 cm. tall unless drawn up by surrounding plants. Lvs us. < 10 mm. wide, narrowing to subacute tip, often flaccid. Peduncle slender, often flexuous and ± procumbent. Raceme short and broad with few, well spaced fls; bracts short with wide sheathing base, hiding young buds but in fr. much shorter than pedicel; pedicels long, spreading, often upturned at tip. Fls bisexual; per. 9.5–13 mm. diam., shrivelled and pendent from base of ripening capsule. Ovary and capsule stipitate, the capsule globose above the gynophore, 4.5–5 mm. diam. Seeds 3.5–4 mm. long, brown, smooth, rounded and without wings. 2n = 14.