Rhizomes extensive, 4-6 mm. in diameter.. Leafy shoots 2-3 m. tall.. Leaves narrowly elliptic, 25-30 × 6-7 cm., acuminate, base rounded, glabrous; nerves widely spaced, 6-9 per 5 mm. above, 15-20 per 5 mm. beneath; ligule rounded, chartaceous, somewhat bilobed, 3-5 mm. long, with prominent anastomosing veins when dry, glabrous except for marginal small white spreading hairs; sheaths sulcate, glabrous.. Inflorescence 2-4-flowered, arising from the base of the leafy shoot or from the rhizome close to it; peduncles 5-30 cm. long, spreading horizontally at or below the soil surface, then abruptly ascending; bracts above ground broadly ovate, the uppermost to 3 × 2.5 cm., glabrous except for sparse ascending hairs on the thin margins near the apex, below ground fugaceous.. Calyx spathaceous, ± 3 cm. long, split for 1 cm. down one side, sparsely pubescent near the apex.. Petals pale mauve, the posterior elliptic, concave, 3.5 × 1.8 cm., the laterals very narrowly triangular, 3.5 × 0.5 cm.. Labellum 6-7 cm. long, the free portion suborbicular, ±3.5 cm. in diameter, pale mauve.. Free filament ± 1.8 cm. long, ligulate; anther subterminal, 10 mm. long, the basal 5 mm. dehiscent; apex 3-lobed, the apical lobe triangular, 3 mm. long, the lateral lobes subulate, up to 4 mm. long.. Ovary glabrous; style filiform, sparsely pubescent towards the apex; stigma trumpet-shaped, with a ciliate margin.. Fruit ovoid, up to 9 cm. long when ripe, including an apical tubular beak about 4 cm. long formed from the accrescent calyx, red and shiny and with 10-12 longitudinal ridges when fresh.. Seeds angular, 4-5 × 3-4 mm., verrucose, dark brown, dull.
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A ginger family plant. It is a herb that keeps growing from year to year. It has extensive rhizomes that are 4-6 mm thick. The leafy shoots are 2-3 m tall. The leaves are narrowly oval and 25-30 cm long by 6-7 cm wide. The base is rounded. There are 2-4 flowers on the flowering stalk. The flowering shoot is 5-30 cm long and comes from the base of the leafy shoots. The petals are pale red. The fruit are oval and 9 cm long. There is a beak at the end. The fruit are red and shiny and have ridges along them. The seeds are angular and 4-5 mm long by 3-4 mm wide. They are a dull dark brown.
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