Tufted annuals or biennials to c. 70 cm high. Roots fibrous, bright yellow. Leaves erect, linear, terete or plano-convex in section, hollow, 5–40 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, minutely scabrous along margins, often somewhat glaucous. Inflorescence erect, paniculate; flowers each solitary in axil of a small papery bract, pedicel exceeding bract; perianth segments shortly fused at base, 7–12 mm long, pale pink with a reddish-brown central streak; stamens shorter than the perianth segments; filaments narrowed below the centre but then broadening and hairy around the ovary, narrowing abruptly immediately below the anther. Capsule globose c. 4–7 mm long; seeds 1 or 2 per locule, c. triangular 2–3 mm long, transversely wrinkled. Flowers Aug.–Oct.