Stem always present, up to 2 m high, unbranched or branched. Rhizome 'horizontal, moderately branched. Leaves concentrated towards the ends of the branches, distichous, 12-35(-40) by ¾-2.5 cm, with a sheathing but not closed base which is continuous with the lamina, lacking a compressed and fused intermediate portion, lacking serrations or prickles; midrib usually more conspicuous than the many other veins. Inflorescence lax, exceeding the leaves. Bracts subtending branches of the inflorescences grading gradually in size into the foliage leaves, up to 25 by 3 cm, ovate to lanceolate not bilaterally compressed; bracts subtending the pedicels ½-3(-5) mm long or absent. Pedicels 6-20 mm. Perianth segments blue (usually pale), white to yellow or lilac, spreading, (6-)8-12 mm long; outer whorl strongly cucullate at the apex. Filaments usually less than half as long as the perianth segments, white or yellow, filiform, usually with a distinct papillose fusiform swelling about the middle. Ovary green, c. 2 mm long; ovules c. 8-10 in each locule; style white or green 2-5 mm. Fruit green or yellow at first, sometimes (at least) becoming black, ellipsoid, 8-15 mm long, with up to 10 seeds. Seeds c. 1.5 mm ø.
Grows in a wide variety of habitats, including mossy forests, thickets, forest borders, on narrow open ridge-crests, in debris of craters, among rocks, on stream banks and in exposed places, locally common, (1000-)1500-3000 m. Fl. Jan.-Dec.
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