Rhizomes with tuberous roots. Leaves 2--4, erect; ligule broadly triangular, 3--4 mm; petiole 1--2 cm, channeled; leaf blade adaxially usually variegated dark and pale green on both sides of midvein, abaxially tinged purple, lanceolate-oblong, 17--27 × 7.5--9.5 cm, base cuneate. Inflorescences on separate shoots arising from rhizomes, appearing before pseudostems, sessile or shortly pedunculate, 4--6-flowered; bracts purple-brown; bracteoles ca. 2.3 cm, apex 2-toothed. Calyx 4.5--7 cm, split on 1 side, apex 3-toothed. Corolla tube equaling calyx; lobes spreading, white, linear, ca. 5 cm. Lateral staminodes erect, white, lanceolate, ca. 5 × 1.7 cm, apex acute. Labellum lilac, suborbicular, apically 2-cleft to base; lobes downcurved, ca. 3.5 × 2 cm, apex acute. Anther connective appendage erect, 2-cleft, fishtail-like. Ovary 4--6 mm, hairy. Fl. Apr. 2 n = 33, 54.
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A herb. It has rhizomes with tubers. There are 2-4 leaves. They are erect. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. It has a channel. The leaf blade usually has a pattern of dark and light green. Underneath it is tinged with purple. The leaf blade is oblong to sword shaped and 17-27 cm long by 7.6-9.5 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped. The flowering groups are on separate shoots arising from the rhizome. They appear before the false stem. There are 4-6 flowers. The bracts are purple brown.
A tropical plant. It can grow in seasonally moist and humid or dry climates. It needs fertile, organically-rich, well-drained soil. It needs an alkaline pH. It grows in open grassland and is also cultivated in S China. It grows up to 750 m above sea level. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
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Monsoon forests and open grassland at elevations from around sea level to 2,600 metres.
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