Stem suberect, elongate, covered with grayish brown sheaths, sometimes with several stiltlike, woody roots near base. Leaves in distant tufts, 4--7 per tuft; petiole 2--7 cm; leaf blade oblong to oblong-oblanceolate, 5.5--14 × 1.8--3.5 cm. Scape arising from an apical leaf axil, 8--12 cm. Inflorescence a reduced panicle, 10--25-flowered; bracts ovate-lanceolate, basal one 0.8--1.2 cm. Flowers solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3; pedicel 4--6 mm, articulate at middle. Tepals white, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 4--6 × 1.5--2.5 mm. Filaments very short; anthers ca. 2.5 mm. Style slightly or scarcely exceeding perianth. Seeds broadly ellipsoid, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. Fl. Aug, fr. Sep--Oct. 2 n = 36*.