Japan Flora: Rhizomes creeping, 5-8 mm in diameter, much branched; leaves deep green, linear-ensiform, gradually narrowed to an acuminate apex, 30-50 cm. long, 2-6 (rarely 8) mm. wide) shining, with­out a midrib, smooth; peduncle 10-30 cm. long, compressed- triangular, 3-5 mm. wide; bract (spathe) leaflike, rather short, 7-15 cm. long, 2-5 mm. wide, erect; spadix ascending to nearly erect, narrowly cylindric, terete, 5-10 cm. long, 3-4 mm. thick, densely flowered, yellow. Apr.-May. Com­mon in wet places along streams and around ponds.

Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu. Formosa, China, and India.

var. pusillus Engl. Smaller in all respects. Much-prized as an ornamental pot­plant, with numerous cultivars. Introduced from China.