Perennial, erect, tuberous or rhizomatous herb; leaves large, peltate-ovate, cordate, with a broad, triangular basal sinus; petioles reddish, purple, channeled at base; spathe stoutly peduncled solitary or clustered, connate, much shorter than the petioles; tube thick, accrescent, persistent, green, much shorter, mouth constricted, limb yellow, lanceolate, erect, deciduous; spadix shorter than spathe, creamy yellow; male inflorescence longer than females; flowers partitioned as male at apical portion, cream-colored, neuter at constriction of spathe; females white tipped, many arranged in spirals, green, usually interposed with flat neuters, appendage creamy, very variable, subulate or absent; perianth scaly or absent; stamens with fleshy connective bearing 2-3, small, anther cells, dehiscing by terminal slits; ovaries ovoid, 1-celled, stigma sessile, disciform, ovules many, orthotropous, parietal placenta; berries orange yellow, oblong-obovoid, many seeded; seeds oblong, sulcate with copious albumen.