Subshrubs. Roots ca. 1 cm thick. Stems erect, simple, 30--70 cm, ribbed. Leaves 2--5-whorled, shortly petiolate or subsessile; leaf blade obovate-or ovate-elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 3.5--6 × 1.5--4 cm, base cuneate, apex shortly acute. Inflorescences borne in scale axils at base of stem, 1-flowered; pedicel 1--1.5 cm, articulate near or above middle; bracts scalelike, ca. 8 mm. Perianth segments pale green, ovate-lanceolate, 10--15 × 2--4 mm. Stamens purple, shorter than perianth or only slightly so; filaments 2--4 mm, stout; anthers ca. 3.5 mm; appendages adherent, adaxial one flat, broad, 5--7 mm. Capsule (from Japan) ovoid, 7--9 × 4--6 mm, 1-or 2-seeded. Fl. Mar--May, fr. Jun--Jul.
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