Japan Flora: Glabrous rhizomatous perennial; leaves radical, the sheaths closely involute and forming a pseudostem, the blade lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 20-35 cm. long, 3-6 cm. wide, acuminate, narrowed to a short petiolelike base; scapes 5-15 cm. long, with few scalelike leaves at base; spike 5-7 cm. long, erect, oblong, acute; bracts acuminate, the outer ones narrowly ovate, the inner ones lanceolate; flowers pale yellow, about 5 cm. across, the perianth-tube elongate, exserted from the bracts, the segments lanceolate, the lip obovate, with a small lobule on each side. Aug.-Oct. Woods;

Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu; often cultivated for the edible shoots.