Subshrubs. Stems erect, sometimes slightly ascending, 0.9-1.5[-3] m tall, much branched, hirsute, retrorsely hirsute or glabrous. Petiole 1-1.5 cm, densely pubescent or glabrous; leaf blade abaxially light green, adaxially green, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 10-20 × 3-6 cm, abaxially sericeous, adaxially sparsely sericeous, densely so along veins or both surfaces glabrous throughout, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acuminate; ocrea dark brown, tubular, 2-3 cm, membranous, oblique, pubescent or glabrous. Inflorescence spreading, paniculate, large; rachis and branches densely pubescent or glabrous; bracts ovate. Pedicel articulate at apex. Perianth white, 5-parted; tepals elliptic, 1.5-2 mm, accrescent and fleshy in fruit, darkened. Stamens 8, included. Styles 3, free; stigmas capitate. Achenes slightly exceeding perianth, black, shiny, ovoid, trigonous, 2-2.5 mm. Fl. Aug-Sep, fr. Sep-Nov.

Slopes, forests, grassy places and thickets in valleys; 1200-3500 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, N Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand].