Field Marks: This species is readily distinguished by its hairy, grass-like leaves and its bright yellow, 6-parted flowers.
Habitat: Wet meadows, but usually in drier habitats.
Habit: Perennial herb with an underground corm.
Stems: Absent except for the flowering stalk, hairy, up to 8 inches tall.
Leaves: Tufted at the base of the plant, linear, pointed at the tip, tapering to the base, without teeth, hairy, up to 1/3 inch broad.
Flowers: 3 or more on a leafless stalk, bright yellow, up to 1 1/4 inches across.
Sepals and Petals: 6, united only at base, not distinguishable into sepals and petals, bright yellow, up to 1/3 inch long.
Stamens: 6, shorter than the sepals and petals.
Pistils: 1; ovary inferior.
Fruits: Capsules narrowly ellipsoid, hairy, dark brown to black, 1/4-1/3 inch long; seeds numerous, black, shiny, covered with minute warts, 1/10 inch long.