Edible Portion : Leaves (flavor), Flower buds, Rhizome
A herb. It grows 0.5-1 m tall. There are 1 or 2 leaves near the base. The leaf sheath is 3-50 cm long. There is one leaf on the stem. This leaf sheath is 3-5 cm long. The leaf stalk is 7.5-60 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 25-55 cm long by 8-20 cm wide. They are thinly leathery. The base is rounded and it tapers to the tip. The flower arrangement does not has a stalk. It is made up of 4 or 5 or more small spikes. These are round and 308 cm across. There are 2 flowers per bract. They are white or yellowish. The fruit is oblong and about 1.2 cm across. It has a thin covering. There is 1 seed and it is oval and 1 cm across. It is surrounded by a red seed coat. Distribution It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet, shady places. In China it is in forests and along valleys from sea level to 1500 m altitude in S China.
The leaves are used to wrap food to give it flavour. (The leaves are not eaten). The flower buds are used to make vinegar. The rhizome is boiled and eaten.