Erect, 35-70 (-100) cm tall, branched or simple, glabrous, perennial, long rhizomatous herb. Stem simple or branched, erect, with few leaves. Leaves 3.0-15 x 1.75-10 cm, broadly lancoelate-ovate, serrate, acuminate, ciliate on midrib and margins, cordate or amplexicaule at base, petiole up to 10 cm long. Ochrea 1.5-5.0 cm long, lanceolate, tubular, acuminate, with two to three long acuminate lobes. Inflorescence 1.5-10.0 cm long, terminal, simple (var. speciosa) or branched (var. alba), many flowered, dense pedunculate raceme, peduncles up to 8.0 cm long. Flowers up to 4.0 mm across, pedicel 1-3 mm long. Ochreolae 3-5 mm long, lanceolate, cartilaginous, with long aristate apex and entire margin. Tepals 5, 2-3.5 x 1.5-2.5 mm, lanceolate to ovate, obtuse, entire, unequal. Stamens 8, filaments thick and short, unequal; anthers dark bluish, subexserted to exserted. Ovary 1-2 x 0.25-0.5 (-0.75) mm, lanceolate, trigonous with three, long, filiform winged and free styles and non-prominent stigma. Nuts 3.0-5.5 x 2.0-3.5 mm, ovate, trigonous and unequal lobes, dark brown to black, glabrous, shining.