Perennial herb, suckering to produce dense clusters of erect, spreading or pendent stems 1–2 m in diameter. Stems up to 30 cm long or more, 1–2 cm thick. Leaves distichous to subrosulate, spreading, 15–35 × 0.5–2.5 cm, linear, expanded to c. 4 cm at the clasping base, tapering to the apex, slightly channelled on the upper surface, fleshy, dark dull-green, purplish-tinged when dried, both surfaces with dense pale spotting near the base; margin cartilaginous, with fringe-like teeth 0.5–1 mm long, 1–2 mm apart. Inflorescence simple, erect to 30–50 cm high, or pendent and curving upward to bear the raceme erect; peduncle with several large, sterile, broadly ovate, papery brown bracts on the upper half, 2–4 cm apart. Raceme 6–10 × 6 cm, cylindric, ± laxly flowered, with overlapping bracts in bud; bracts 18–25 × 8–10 mm, broadly ovate with rounded apices, orange-brown; pedicels 25–30 mm long, elongating to 35 mm in fruit. Perianth vermilion-red tipped with green, 30–37 mm long, c. 7 mm in diameter across the ovary, cylindric-trigonous, narrowing towards the mouth, rounded at the base; outer segments free to the base with tips slightly spreading. Stamens and stigma scarcely exserted. Capsule stipitate for 0.5 mm, 14–18 × 5–6 mm, oblong, grey. Seeds c. 2 × 3.5 mm, very narrowly winged, black.
