Tall, rhizomatous, with sturdy erect scape to 2 m high, swollen at ground level, base brilliant red when cut; roots brilliant red. Leaves to c. 1 m × 7 cm, light green, strongly plicate, glabrous, leathery, persisting at base of plant when dry; sheath brilliant orange-red at base. Flowers many, 3-4 cm diam., mustard-yellow, bracteate, in erect, ± cylindric, short-branched panicles; branches bracteate, 4-9-flowered, 7 cm long near base of panicle, 2 cm long near top, clothed with short glandular hairs. Scape compressed pilose, orange-red tinged below; bracts leaf-like, regularly spaced. Perianth-segments c. 2cm long, free, spreading. Stamens 3; ovary superior, stigma minute. Capsule c 1 cm long, ± globular, strongly 3-lobed. Seed ± globose, covered with long black hairs.