Rhizome moniliform or gingerlike, 1--2.5 cm thick. Stem erect or slightly scandent distally, to over 1 m, glabrous. Leaves in whorls of 3--6; petiole very short or indistinct; leaf blade variable, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, rarely to linear, (5--)8--15 × (0.4--)1.3--2.8(--3.5) cm, glabrous, apex strongly cirrose to curved. Inflorescences umbel-like, 2--6(--11)-flowered; peduncle 0.5--2(--4) cm; bracts borne at base of pedicel, (1--)2--6 mm, scarious or subherbaceous with scarious margin, 1-veined, persistent. Pedicel (2--)4--7(--10) mm. Perianth white, yellowish green, or pale purple, slightly constricted at middle, 6--9 mm; lobes ca. 1.5 mm. Filaments 0.7--1 mm; anthers 2--2.5 mm. Ovary ca. 2.5 mm. Style 1.5--2 mm. Berries purple-red or black, 6--7 mm in diam., 2--4-seeded. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Aug--Oct. 2 n = 22*, 28*, 30*, 32*.
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