Marantochloa purpurea (Ridl.) Milne-redh.

Stems up to 3.0 m. high but often much less, branched.. Leaves homo-tropic; sheathing part of petiole up to 42 cm. long; terete part below the calloused part up to 38 cm. long; calloused part up to 4.0 cm. long; leaf-blade strongly asymmetric, the acumen normally being to the right of the midrib as seen from above, ± ovate, up to 43 x 18 cm., often much smaller, sometimes pruinose or purplish below.. Inflorescence lax, up to 45 cm. long, branched; rhachis and bracts pink; primary bract 2.5–4 cm. long, spreading, together with 2 two-flowered pedunculate cymules which it envelopes.. Flowers pale pink or deep purple with two inner lobes of staminode bright yellow, about 1.8 cm. long; ovary shortly pilose.. Capsule subglobose, about 8 mm. in diameter, pilose, bright red, the withered perianth persisting; seed as in Fig. 1/5A, brown, smooth with whitish aril.. Fig. 1/5 and 5A, p. 3, and Fig. 2.