Tufted perennials to c.50 cm high, usually with a bulb-like tuber. Roots thick, fleshy. Leaves channelled or subterete, hollow, to 30 cm long, 1–5 mm wide. Inflorescences erect, 1 or 2 per plant; scape 3–6 mm diam. at base; flowers yellow; perianth segments 9–22 mm long; stamens shorter than perianth segments, anthers yellow, remaining erect after dehiscence; filaments all bearded with acute or clavate hairs at apex, concealing the lower part of the anthers. Capsule globose to obovoid, 4–7 mm long. Seeds smooth to tuberculate, 2–3 mm long. Flowers spring–summer.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MSB, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. A widespread, variable species inhabiting a wide range of habitats, often associated with rather heavy, water-retentive or seasonally inundated soils, but also occurring on shallow soils overlying rock, rare in the north-west and coastal districts, occasional in moist alpine grassland and ascending to 1800 m or more on the Bogong High Plains.
