Roots relatively slender, sometimes with fusiform, tuberous part near tip. Stem rhizomelike, stout, with dense nodes. Leaves somewhat crowded and subterminal, sessile, abaxially glaucous, grasslike, 25--60 cm × 5--11 mm, 5--9-veined, margin serrulate, membranous at base. Scape 13--26 cm. Inflorescence a raceme, 4--11 cm, several to many flowered; bracts lanceolate, basal one 0.8--1.6 cm. Flowers solitary; pedicel 7--9 mm, articulate proximally. Tepals purple or purplish red, ovate-lanceolate, 8--9 × 2--2.5 mm. Filaments very short; anthers 6.5--7 mm, connate to form a cone. Style ca. 7 mm, slender. Fl. Jun--Jul. 2 n = 36*.

* Moist places in sparse forests, hillsides along streams; 1000--2000 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.