Roscoea spicata Smith, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 13: 461. 1822.

Pseudostems 30--60 cm. Leaves 4--7, petiolate; ligule 5--10 mm, membranous, apex obtuse or acute; petiole 1.5--2 cm; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate to linear, 12--30 × 1.6--4 cm, base rounded or obtuse, apex caudate-acuminate. Spikes 7--12 cm, densely many flowered; bracts red, oblong, 2.5--3 cm, longer than calyx. Flowers yellow. Calyx 1.5--2.5 cm, split on 1 side, apex 2-toothed. Corolla 2--2.5 cm; lobes lanceolate, 2--2.5 cm. Lateral staminodes oblanceolate-oblong, subequaling central lobe of corolla. Labellum ca. 2.5 cm, apex 2-cleft. Anther linear, ca. 1.5 cm. Capsule red, globose, ca. 1 cm in diam. Seeds black, ovoid, enclosed in white, scarious aril. Fl. Jul, fr. Sep--Oct. 2 n = 34.

Forest floors or epiphytic on trees; 1100--2600 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Nepal, Sikkim].