Japan Flora: Plants 40-60 cm. high; rhizomes branching; pseudostems ascending, several-leaved; leaves broadly lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 20-40 cm. long, 5-7 cm. wide, sessile or short-petiolate, rather densely pilose on both sides especially beneath, the ligules 2-4 mm. long, puberulent, the sheath pilose; spike solitary, terminal, densely short-pilose, 10-15 cm. long, the bracts narrowly oblong, caducous, shorter than the calyx; flowers nearly sessile, 1 or 2 at each node of the inflorescence, white with red striations, about 2.5 cm. long; calyx tubular, split inside, puberulent, with 3 obtuse teeth on upper margin, the lip ovate; fruit broadly ellipsoidal, 1-1.7 cm. long, puberulent, red. May-June. Woods in foothills;

Honshu (s. Kanto Distr. and westw.), Shikoku, Kyushu. Formosa and China.

var. kiushiana Kham. Calyx-tube, ovary, perianth, and fruit nearly glabrous. Kyushu (Ibusuki in Satsuma Prov.).