Large rhizomatous herb; stem absent or up to 5 cm long, up to 2.6 cm in diameter, concealed in imbricating leaf-bases. Leaves distichous, 4–12, slightly spreading fanwise, straight to slightly recurved, slightly compressed-cylindric, 65–105≈0.8–1.3 cm, 1.3–1.9(–2.2) cm thick from front to back, very rough, tapering to a sharp whitish or grey spine 0.8–1.3 cm long; leaf channelled down inner surface with acute dark brown edges but becomes shallow towards the base, membrane discontinous dark brown above, but whitish membrane towards the leaf base, with 11–15 or more grooves, dull bluish green with numerous darker longitudinal lines. Inflorescence a spike-like raceme 30–60 cm long, axis pale dull light green, 0.6 cm in diameter, minutely dotted with white; flowers 7–14 per cluster; lower inflorescence bracts 2–3, 1.9–3.8 cm long, tapering to a fine subulate point, produced on lower third of peduncle, distant, membranous; bracteoles subulate, 0.3–0.6 cm long; pedicels 0.4–0.5 cm long, persistent part 0.3–0.6 cm long, slender. Flower erect or ascending, pale dingy greenish in bud to purplish-blue on maturity; tube white to greenish, 0.7–1 cm long, lobes white on the inner face, green with minute dull purplish dots on the outside, linear, 1.2–1.6 cm long, obtuse, revolute, recurved in 3 lobes, but some in 5, becoming horizontal or distinctly drooping when expanded. Fruit a berry, greenish brown on ripening