Rhizomes extensive, 4-6 mm. in diameter; scales chartaceous, red-brown, 3-4 cm. long.. Leafy shoots 2-4 m. tall.. Leaves narrowly elliptic, 20-50 × 5-11 cm., acuminate, cuneate, glabrous; nerves 19-28 per 5 mm. below, well spaced above but obscured by abundant hypodermal sclerenchyma; ligule rounded, coriaceous, 3-6 mm. long; leaf-sheaths sulcate, with faint oval pits in the furrows, sparsely pubescent.. Inflorescences 5-6-flowered, often much branched, arising at the base of the leafy shoots; peduncles erect or ascending, 2-6 cm. long (but see note below), the basal bracts broadly ovate, 1.5-2 cm. long, the uppermost ovate, up to 5 × 3.5 cm., glabrous, coriaceous with scarious margins.. Calyx spathaceous, 3.5-5 cm. long, split ± 1.5 cm. down one side.. Corolla yellow; posterior petal ovate, concave, acute, ± 3 × 1.5 cm.; laterals narrowly triangular, ± 2.5 × 0.5 cm.. Labellum yellow, ±5.5 cm. long, the free portion obovate, decurved, ± 2.5 × 1 cm.. Free filament ligulate, 2 cm. long; anthers subterminal, completely dehiscent, 1 cm. long; apex 3-lobed, the terminal lobe triangular, 2 mm. long, the laterals 3-4 mm. long, subulate.. Style pubescent towards the apex; stigma trumpet-shaped, pubescent outside; ovary glabrous.. Fruit ovoid, ±4.5 cm. long and 2 cm. in diameter, grooved, crowned by the persistent calyx.. Seeds ellipsoid, 4× 2 mm., smooth, brown.. Fig. 5.
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A ginger family herb. The leafy shoots grow 2-4 m tall. It has extensive rhizomes 4-6 mm thick. The leaves are narrowly oval and 20-50 cm long by 5-11 cm wide. They are wedge shaped and taper to the tip. There are 5-6 flowers in a group. The come from the base of the leafy shoots. The fruit are oval and 4.5 cm long and 2 cm across. The seeds are 4 mm long by 2 mm wide.
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