Rhizomes creeping, 5--10 mm in diam. Pseudostems 60--100 cm. Leaf sheath pubescent; ligule 2-lobed, 2--3 mm; petiole absent to 1.2 cm; leaf blade linear, 30--50 × 3--5 cm, glabrous except pubescent along midvein abaxially. Inflorescences break-ing through leaf sheaths 14--16 cm above ground, sessile, conical, 3.5--6.5 × 2.5--3.5 cm; bracts numerous, densely imbricate, ovate, 1.7--1.4 cm, pilose abaxially and at margin, 2-flowered; bracteoles ovate or oblong. Calyx funnelform, ca. 8 mm, pilose. Corolla tube shorter than calyx; lobes oblong, ca. 6 × 3 mm. Anther sessile, ca. 5 mm. Ovary hairy. Style ca. 6 mm; stigma capitate. Fl. May. 2 n = 96*.