2n = 14

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.

Plant us. rising only a few cm. from the ground but reaching diam. of 10–40 cm. Lvs 3–7 mm. wide, ± horizontally spreading. Peduncle very short, scarcely emerging from lf-sheaths, rarely exceeding raceme-length. Raceme at fl. 1–2.5 × 1.5 cm., elongating little at fr.; fls densely crowded; bracts c. = pedicels, with broad, pale, membr. sheathing base, covering young buds but in fr. almost hidden; pedicels short, spreading, hardly visible. Fls yellow but the nerve in each tepal green externally, bisexual; per. 7–11 mm. diam., shrivelled and tangled at base of ripe capsule. Ovary and capsule stipitate, the capsule globose above the gynophore, 3.5–6.5 mm. diam. Seeds c. 3.5 mm. long, brown, smooth, rounded and without wings. 2n = 14.