Glabrous in all parts. Tuber irregularly lobed, verrucose, 2–5 in. in diam., or probably sometimes larger. Male inflorescence usually taller and looser than the female and sometimes exceeding a foot in height; in the tropical specimens seen consisting of a main axis about 3/4 in. thick, scaly at the base and bearing numerous lateral racemes 1 1/2–2 1/2 in. long, arising in the axils of lanceolate bracts from 1/2 to 3/4 in. long. Male flowers crowded, very shortly pedicellate, ebracteolate, about 3 lin. in diam. Perianth-lobes 2–4, usually 3, thick, fleshy, cucullate, 1–1 1/2 lin. in diam., enclosing the opposite stamens. Female inflorescence (described from extra-tropical specimens) capitate-paniculate, very dense, subglobose or oblong, 3–9 in. high, branched to the third or fourth degree. Heads crowded, globose, 4–6 lin. in diam., very shortly pedunculate, destitute of involucre. Female flowers very densely crowded, 1/2– 3/4 lin. in diam., destitute of perianth, free from each other. Ovary immersed in the fleshy naked receptacle; style none; stigma discoid, of the same diameter as the flower.