A small herb. Leaves 2-8, glabrous, sheaths 3-4 cm long, blade linear-lanceolate to oblong-elliptical, 7-20 cm x 1-10 cm. Inflorescence emerging from between the leaves, sessile, with 10-12 flower buds, only a few of which develop; calyx 3-5 cm long, white, corolla white, tube up to 8.5 cm long, lobes up to 3.5 cm long, labellum obovate, 20-30 mm x 10-25 mm, incised to about one third, purple, other staminodes lanceolate to oblong-obovate, 18-37 mm long, white, fertile stamen about 10 mm long, connective shortly bilobed with acute lobes. Fruit is a loculicidal capsule or is berrylike.

Astringent (small roots and tubers); coolant (main rhizome)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used against dysentery and diarrhoea, and also to treat coughs (small roots and tubers)