Plants 5-25 dm. tall, the stem erect or ascending, usually rooting at the lowermost nodes, pubescent. Leaves ovate to broadly elliptic, acuminate, obtuse or rounded at the base and produced into a narrow winged petiole, 10-20 cm. long, essentially glabrous; sheath 1-3 cm. long, sparingly pubescent. Inflorescence a few-to many-flowered scorpioid cyme, solitary or paired at the tip of a fairly elongate leafless peduncle. Sepals foliaceous, glabrous, about 1 cm. long. Petals somewhat surpassing the sepals, very unequal, the 2 posterior pinkish-mauve, the anterior nearly white; 3 uppermost stamens with copious deep yellowish beards, brownish at base, 3 lowermost naked.
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