Perennial herbs. Bulbs with many overlapping, fleshy scales, without tunics. Stems simple, erect, leafy. Leaves alternate or spirally arranged, sometimes in whorl, sessile or shortly petiolated, usually linear to linear lanceolate or elliptic lanceolate, parallel-veined. Inflorescences a terminal raceme, or a solitary flower, subtended by leaf-like bracts, arranged usually in whorl. Flowers usually large, bisexual, actinomorphic, or weakly zygomorphic, funnel shaped, campanulate, tubular or cup-shaped, drooping, sometimes fragrant, pedicillate. Tepals 6, white, yellow, greenish, purplish, or reddish to purplish, free, often strongly recurved, papillose at apex; nectarines present near base adaxially, usually narrowly grooved, sometimes fringed with fine hairs or papillae. Stamens 6, usually shorter than or equal to perianth lobes, hypogynous; filaments subulate or filiform; anthers dorsifixed, versatile. Ovary cylindric, 3-loculed, ovules many per locule; style elongate; stigma swollen or capitate, usually 3-lobed. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, 3-valved, erect. Seeds many, thin, flattened, densely stacked, narrowly winged.

About 115 species from temperate and alpine regions of the N hemisphere, especially in E Asia. Possibly six native species in Nepal.

Key to Species

1 a. Flowers small; tepals < 6 cm ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2

   b. Flowers large; tepals > 6 cm ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3

2 a. Leaves linear; flowers bell shaped………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1. L. nanum

   b. Leaves elliptic lanceolate; flowers cup shaped……………………………………………………………………………………………..3. L. oxypetalum

3 a. Leaves linear; flowers white with tubular base…………………………………………………………………………………………..4. L. wallichianum

   b.Leaves oblong lanceolate; flowers yellowish green, with funnel-shaped base………………………………………………….2. L. nepalense