Plants up to 100-200 cm high. Stem thick, terete. Leaves linear-broadly linear, 8-20 mm broad. Flowering stem equal to or somewhat shorter than the leaves. Male and female parts of inflorescence contiguous. Female parts slightly longer than the male parts at maturity, cylindric, soft, dark brown or blackish brown. Male flowers with simple hairs and pollen in tetrads; filaments 2-3 times as long as anther. Female flower ebracteate, ovary 1/3-1/4 the length of stipe, stigma lanceolate or rhombic, fleshy, dark brown or persistent brown, much surpassing the perianth hairs.