Stem rhizomelike, terete, elongate, stout, with dense nodes and several creeping stolons. Leaves nearly crowded and subterminal; petiole 3--6 cm; leaf blade abaxially glaucous, oblanceolate-oblong to suboblanceolate, 6--8 × 0.8--2.4 cm, apex subrounded or obtuse. Scape 9--15 cm. Inflorescence a raceme or a reduced panicle, 5--8 cm, several to 15-flowered; bracts lanceolate, basal one 5--8 mm. Flowers solitary or rarely paired; pedicel 3--4 mm, articulate near middle. Tepals purple, ovate, ca. 4 × 2 mm. Filaments short, less than 1 mm; anthers ca. 1.5 mm. Style ca. 3 mm. Seeds ellipsoid, ca. 9 mm. Fl. Jul, fr. Aug--Sep. 2 n = 108*.

* Forests, shady and humid places, hillsides; 1600--2200 m. S Sichuan, NW Yunnan.