Nevius' onion is an attractive wildflower with 2 basal leaves and a single leafless scape giving rise to a cluster of flowers at its tip. The stem is usually held higher than the leaves. The leaves are either convex in cross section and 2-8 mm wide or strongly flattened and up to 15 mm wide. The leaves usually persist until flowering. The scape is usually 2o-30 cm high.

Two or three broadly ovate bracts with short-pointed tips subtend the umbel. The bracts are 5-7 nerved. The umbel is several to many-flowered with individual flowers on thin pedicels which are 2-3 times longer than the tepals. The 6 tepals range from 6-10 mm long and are narrowly lanceolate with pointed tips. The coloration is pink or rarely white. The midribs of the tepals are prominent. The stamens are as long as or longer than the perianth with oblong, obtuse, or acute anthers.

Grasslands, sagebrush desert, and ponderosa pine forests in shallow, winter wet soils.

Nevius' onion is found wholly east of the Cascade Mountains, from Kittitas County, WA south to northern Oregon.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found at elevations of 200'-2300' from the Major Creek plateau east to the Columbia Hills north of the Dallesport, WA.

- -