Herbs perennial. Rhizomes black-brown, large, 2-3 cm in diam. Stems usually 2 or 3 from rhizome, erect, 15-30 cm tall, glabrous. Basal leaves petiolate; petiole 4-6 cm, glabrous; leaf blade elliptic or elliptic-ovate, 8-13 × 4-6 cm, abaxially yellow-brown tomentose, adaxially glabrous, midvein large, glabrous, base subrounded, margin with thickened vein tips, revolute, apex acuminate. Cauline leaves shortly petiolate or subsessile; leaf blade linear; ocrea: lower part green, upper part brown, tubular, 5-8 mm, membranous, dehiscent, not ciliate. Inflorescence spicate, dense, 2-3 cm, 1.2-1.5 in diam.; bracts brown, ovate, 3-4 mm, membranous, apex acuminate. Pedicel 5-6 mm, articulate at apex. Perianth red, 5-parted; tepals narrowly elliptic, 3-3.5 × 1.5-2 mm. Stamens 8, exserted. Styles 3, connate at base; stigmas capitate. Achenes included in persistent perianth, brown, shiny, narrowly ovoid, sharply trigonous, 2.5-3 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.