Perennial herbs with narrow 2-ranked, grass-like leaves and mostly clustered, perfect flowers, subtended by bracts; perianth of 6 segments, rolled together in the bud, stamens 3, inserted on the perianth opposite its outer series of lobes; filaments slender, distant or united; anthers facing upward.

Growing in small tufts, 4—10 inches high, pale, glaucous. Leaves stiff and very slender about half the length of the taller scapes, equalling the shorter ones. Spathe small purplish or green, often partly double and enclosing 3 or 4 small bright violet-blue flowers, less than half an inch broad, on erect pedicels.

Throughout the Rockies in open moist ground at the lower elevations; flowering in June.