Bulb up to 25 cm in diameter, the apex often emergent from the ground. Leaves up to 60 × 1.5-4 cm, greyish-green or glaucous, developing after the flowers. Scape 5-30 cm, with a spherical inflorescence of 50-100 (or more) flowers. pedicels 3-8 cm at anthesis, elongating to 40 cm in fruit, angular. Flowers pink to dark purple; tube 0.5-2 cm, narrowly funnel-shaped, always shorter than segments; segments 2-3 × 0.2-0.4 cm, recurved towards apex. Capsule up to 3 cm, irregularly dehiscent.