Stems about 50 cm high, slender-wiry, simple, terete, solid, smooth. Sheaths deciduous. Male inflorescence 4-7 cm long, narrowly paniculate-cymose, with 2 or 3 simple or compound branches at each node. Spathes persistent, 1.5-2.5 cm long, ovate-lanceolate, acute, expanded, chartaceous, rigid at base, pale red-brown. Spathellae inconspicuous, linear-lanceolate, membranous. Flowers in small clusters. Bracts about 1.5 mm long, orbicular, membranous. Perianth sessile, about 2.5 mm long, rotund, cartilaginous, red-brown: outer segments broadly elliptic, obtuse, deeply concave, slightly carinate: inner segments almost twice as long, elliptic-obovate, obtuse. Female inflorescence 4-6 cm long, spicate-cymose, linear-oblong, with 1 or 2 short simple branches at each node. Spathes persistent, slightly convolute, otherwise as in the male. Flowers 2-4 at each node, 1 sessile. Spathellae absent. Bracts minute, deltoid, membranous. Perianth 3 mm long, elliptic, trigonous, membranous: outer segments linear-lanceolate, apiculate, carinate: inner segments as long as the outer, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse. Ovary ovate, dorsally compressed, surmounted by a narrower horny cap. Styles 2, short, stout, recurved.
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