Japan Flora: Pur­plish delicate herb 5-12 cm. high; stems simple or with few branches from the base; scalelike leaves and bracts few, small, lanceolate to ovate, 2-3 mm. long, membranous; flowers 1-2, erect, short-pedicelled, purplish, 8-10 mm. long, 3-winged, the outer perianth-lobes erect, slightly incurved, about 1.5 mm. long, the inner ones orbicular, minute. Aug.-Sept.

Kyu­shu (Yakushima). Ryukyus and China (Hainan).