Tupistra ensifolia F. T. Wang & T. Tang, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. 7: 86. 1936.

Rhizome brown or green, stemlike, elongate, terete; nodes spaced. Stem elongate, to 10 cm; nodes many. Leaves many, cauline, distichous, sessile, lorate, 35--50 cm × 5--12 mm. Spike 4--5.5 cm, densely many flowered, with several sterile bracts apically; peduncle 4--5 cm; fertile bracts green or pale brown, 7--12 mm. Perianth tubular-campanulate, 5--5.5 mm; tube 2--2.5 mm; lobes spreading, brownish or green, ovate, 2--2.5 × 1.5--2 mm, fleshy, margin white, membranous, erose. Filaments basally widened and corrugated, free part very short. Ovary ovoid. Style inconspicuous. Berries red-black at maturity, subglobose, 5--8 mm in diam. Fl. Jun, fr. Oct. 2 n = 38*.

* Broad-leaved forests, shady rocky slopes; 1000--3200 m. Yunnan.