tall, little-branched perennial; stems erect, cylindric, purplish, minutely rugulose, solid; leaf-sheaths 2 in. long, closely convolute; male inflorescence terminal, 2–2 1/2 in. long, densely paniculate-cymose, oblong, erect, nearly covered by the coriaceous, deep-brown, oblong, acute spathes; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, twisted, 1-nerved, membranous, whitish; flower arcuate, stipitate; perianth-segments lanceolate, acuminate; inner shorter; anthers linear-oblong; female inflorescence terminal, linear-oblong, cymose, 2–4 in. long, pluri-stachyate, with 3–4 coriaceous, striate, shining, purplish spathes; spikelets 1-flowered, oblong-pyramidal; bracts loosely imbricate, lanceolate, membranous, yellowish, 1-nerved; flower solitary, shorter than the bracts; perianth minute, of two rows; segments all suborbicular, acute; ovary globose; fruit bony, subglobose, smooth, indehiscent, 1-celled, 1-seeded; styles 2. null
