Biennial herb; rootstock ovoid, large, sessile cylindric tubers, pale yellow or whitish, aromatic inside; leaves large, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, narrowed at base, entire, pubescent beneath; petioles as long as the blade, clothed beneath with fine, persistent, pubescence; inflorescence few flowered spikes; flowers shorter than bracts; peduncle about 15-20 cm long, concealed by sheathing petiole; flowering bracts ovate, pale green, bracts of coma more or less tinged with pink; corolla tube somewhat funnel shaped, lateral segments oblong, upper one longer, ovate, concave; staminode obtuse, labellum as long as the corolla segments, fertile stamen 1, anther not crested, white with a central yellow band, lip orbicular, tip deflexed; ovary 3-celled, hairy towards apex, style filiform, stigma 2-lipped, ciliate; capsules ovoid, membranous, 3-valved; seeds ovoid or oblong, arillate.