Stem rhizomelike, stout, with dense nodes and somewhat woody, densely hairy roots. Leaves somewhat crowded and subterminal, subsessile, grasslike, 25--60 × (0.4--)0.7--1.3 cm, ca. 9-veined, margin serrulate, membranous at base. Scape 10--30 cm. Inflorescence a reduced panicle, 4--14 cm, usually ca. 100-flowered; bracts lanceolate, basal one 0.8--1.5 cm. Flowers solitary or paired; pedicel 1--1.4 cm, articulate proximally or at middle. Tepals white or purplish, ovate to lanceolate, ca. 6 × 2.5--3 mm. Filaments ca. 1 mm; anthers ca. 3 mm, sometimes ± connate. Style ca. 5 mm. Seeds ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm in diam. Fl. Jul--Sep, fr. Oct--Nov. 2 n = 36*.