Japan Flora: Glabrous, slender, herbaceous, much branched; scales, bracts, bracteoles and 3 outer perianth-segments ovate-cordate, about 0.5 mm. long, ciliolate; flowers sessile, in rather loose axillary spikes; inner perianth-segments elliptic or ovate-deltoid, 1.5-2 mm. long; fruit globose, 6-7 mm. long and as wide, enclosed by the peri- anth-tube. Oct.-Nov. Near seashores;
Kyushu (Yakushima). Widely distributed in the Tropics.