Bulbous geophyte up to 20cm; stem wiry and coiled in lower part. Leaves 4-6 spreading, sometimes curled, filiform, about 1mm wide, shiny green; flowers 1-4, small, erect, funnel-shaped, white to pale-pink; often with a greenish centre.

Latin: spira = coiled, -alis = resembling: referring to the coil in the lower part of the flowering stem.