plant coulescent; stems erect, 8 cm long. leaves 10 cm long, with small, dark sheaths, white towards the base at anthesis; blade narrowly triangular, 3 mm wide, white-ciliate, elsewhere glabrous, loosely serrulate. inflorescence terminal, sessile, narrowly ovoid, 2 cm long, dark chestnut colored; primary bracts subfoliaceous, exceeding the inflorescence; floral bracts elliptic, slightly shorter than the sepals, membranous, reddish-brown. flowers: sepals free, abaxial ones linear, obtuse, 10 mm long. pistil: ovary superior.