Japan Flora: Prominently spreading-pilose annual; stems rather stout, erect, much branched, 1-1.5 m. long; leaves broadly ovate to ovate-cordate, 10-20 cm. long, 7-15 cm. wide, short-acuminate, cordate or the upper ones subrounded at base, long-petiolate, the sheaths tubular, membranous, pilose, 7-30 mm. long, somewhat wing-margined; inflorescence branched, the flower spikes rather dense, ped uncled, nodding to pendulous, 5-12 cm. long; flowers red to pink, 3-4 mm. long; achenes orbicular, about 3 mm. long, dull, compressed.-

Cultivated and often naturalized. China, India, and Malaysia.