Herb, up to 1.5 m tall; stem hollow, often much branched. Leaf-blades lanceolate to narrowly ovate or elliptic, up to 12 x 5 cm, attenuate at the base, acute or subacute at the apex; petiole up to c. 1.5 cm long. Spikes cylindrical-conical, up to 12 cm long but usually much shorter, and c. 1 cm in diam., with only a few flowers open at a time; peduncle up to 8 cm long; bracts and bracteoles oblanceolate-spathulate, the tips arched over the flowers except at anthesis. Flowers sessile, attached longitudinally to the rhachis by a linear base. Calyx-lobes broadly triangular, rounded at apex, 1–1.5 mm long. Corolla white to greenish-white or pink, 2–3 mm long; lobes ovate-triangular, united about half-way. Filaments slightly widened at base; anthers c. 0.5 mm long. Capsule 4–5 mm in diam., dehiscing below the calyx-lobes which fall with the lid, leaving the scarious base persistent on the rhachis. Seeds yellowish-brown, oblong, c. 0.5 mm long.
Range
S3 widespread in tropical Africa andtropical Asia and America (probably introduced).
