Habit: grows from a cylindrical corm with one pair of basal, strap like bright green leaves. Leafless, flowering stems produce 1-3 showy flowers comprised of 6 yellow tepals that curve backwards revealing yellow stamen and nodding towards the ground. The fruit is a three-angled capsule. Blooms shortly after snowmelt.
Ecology: found in the colder climates of subalpine and alpine meadows, on moist slopes and in shaded areas of wet montane forests from elevation of 3300-11,000 ft (1000-3300 m).
Growing Conditions: full sun to partial shade, in seasonally moist well-drained soil.