Perennial herb to about 45 cm; bulb densely hairy at the base and apex inside. Stem hairless. Leaves 2-4, shiny green, hairless, margin flat, not red. Inflorescence 1-4 flowered, scented, buds erect. Flowers star-shaped; spring. Tepals to 5.5 x 3 cm, lilac-pink outside; blotch yellow, white-margined. Stamen filaments hairy, yellow; anthers yellow to brown; pollen yellow.
T. bakeri Hall. from Crete to about 45 cm; bulb with dense basal and apical hairs inside. Stem hairless. Leaves 2-4, shiny green, hairless, margins flat, not red. Inflorescence 1-4 flowered, bud nodding. Flowers cup-shaped; spring.Tepals to 55 x 30 mm, purple-pink; blotch yellow with a white border. Stamen filaments hairy, yellow; anthers yellow, purple or brown; pollen yellow. Closely related to T. saxatilis Spreng. 'Lilac Wonder' has flowers rosy lilac with a large bright yellow blotch.
T. celsiana DC. is of uncertain origin, naturalised from S Europe, N Africa and Asia Minor to Russia, to about 15 cm; bulb sparsely hairy at the base and apex inside. Stem hairless. Leaves 2-4, prostrate, green, hairless, twisted, not red. Inflorescence usually 1 flowered, bud nodding. Flowers star-shaped, scented; late spring. Tepals to 70 x 25 mm, yellow, greenish outside, basally yellow; blotch absent. Stamen filaments hairy, yellow; anthers yellow; pollen yellow.
E Mediterranean.
Source: (2005). Liliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.