A perennial herb. Bulb of 2 scales, 6-8 mm in diam. Stem 15-40 cm. Leaves 5-7, basal 2 usually opposite, others alternate or also opposite; leaf blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 3.6-5.5 cm × 3-5 mm, apex not cirrose. Inflorescence 1- or more flowered; bract 1, apex acuminate. Flowers campanulate; pedicel rather long. Tepals blackish purple, tessellated with yellowish brown or sometimes with a colored, V-shaped stripe near apex, suboblong, ca. 2.6 × 1 cm; nectaries inconspicuous or strongly projecting abaxially. Stamens 1.2-1.4 cm; filaments sometimes papillose. Style scarcely or shortly lobed; lobes 0.5-2 mm. Capsule narrowly winged; wings ca. 1 mm wide.
The bulbs are used in the treatment of cough due to heat-phlegm, irritating dry cough and resolving masses. It is also useful in scrofula and subcutaneous nodule and acute mastitis in the initial stage.
Reference
Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 320, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.
Health Remedies 
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