Pseudostems 0.8--1.2 m. Ligule 2-cleft, lobes orbicular, 1--3 mm; petiole absent to 1 cm; leaf blade linear, 25--50 × 2.5--5 cm, abaxially densely velvety or glabrous, midvein pubescent, base attenuate, apex caudate-mucronate. Spikes conelike, 4.5--9 × 3--4 cm, 5.5--6 × ca. 2.5 cm in fruit; bracts densely imbricate, brownish when dry, ovate, 1.7--2.2 × 1--1.5 cm, densely villous on both surfaces; bracteoles ovate, ca. 1.2 cm, golden sericeous abaxially. Flowers white. Calyx tubular, ca. 1 cm, apex 2-toothed, ciliate. Corolla tube ca. 1.1 cm; lobes ovate, ca. 7 × 3 mm. Lateral staminodes absent. Labellum oblong, subequaling corolla lobes, apex 2-cleft. Filament ca. 5 mm; anther ca. 4 mm. Style linear; stigma exceeding anther. Capsule concealed by persistent bracts, red, globose, ca. 8 mm in diam. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Aug--Oct.