Rhizomes with tuberous roots. Leaves 2--4, erect; ligule broadly triangular, 3--4 mm; petiole 1--2 cm, channeled; leaf blade adaxially usually variegated dark and pale green on both sides of midvein, abaxially tinged purple, lanceolate-oblong, 17--27 × 7.5--9.5 cm, base cuneate. Inflorescences on separate shoots arising from rhizomes, appearing before pseudostems, sessile or shortly pedunculate, 4--6-flowered; bracts purple-brown; bracteoles ca. 2.3 cm, apex 2-toothed. Calyx 4.5--7 cm, split on 1 side, apex 3-toothed. Corolla tube equaling calyx; lobes spreading, white, linear, ca. 5 cm. Lateral staminodes erect, white, lanceolate, ca. 5 × 1.7 cm, apex acute. Labellum lilac, suborbicular, apically 2-cleft to base; lobes downcurved, ca. 3.5 × 2 cm, apex acute. Anther connective appendage erect, 2-cleft, fishtail-like. Ovary 4--6 mm, hairy. Fl. Apr. 2 n = 33, 54.

Medicinal.

Open grasslands, also cultivated. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand].