Rhizomes gingerlike, strongly aromatic. Pseudostems 80--110 cm. Leaves sessile; ligule with red lines, obtusely deltoid, 2-lobed, ca. 6 mm; leaf blade glaucous, lanceolate, 15--25 × 3--6 cm, adaxially glabrous, abaxially pilose near base. Inflorescences arising from rhizomes, ovoid, laxly few flowered; peduncle embedded in ground, very short; bracts green or pale purple, ovate-oblong or lanceolate, ca. 5 cm, pilose; bracteoles oblong, ca. 2.3 cm, membranous. Flowers purple. Calyx ca. 3 cm, split on 1 side to middle, villous, apex 3-toothed. Corolla tube 4--5 cm; lobes lanceolate, central one 1.5--1.8 cm wide, lateral ones pale purple, narrower than central one. Labellum with purple stripes, ovate or narrowly so, ca. 3 × 2 cm, apex entire or emarginate; lateral lobes absent. Anther sessile, ca. 1.5 cm; connective appendage ca. 1.5 cm. Ovary villous.