UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Leaves bright green, basally white with pink or red, sword-shaped;

venation parallel along length of blade, prominent veins 2-6; swelling in center evident in cross section, tapering toward both ends; vegetative leaves to nearly 1.5 m, sheathing base 18-52 cm or more, distal portion of leaf generally 31-89 cm long and 0.3-1.2 cm broad, margins entire; sympodial leaf typically 57-148 cm long, usually equal to or slightly longer than vegetative leaves, sheathing base 25-75 cm long, distal portion 28-78 cm long and 0.3-1.3 cm broad.

Inflorescence a solitary spadix, from 3-angled axis, spadices 3.3-7.4 cm long and 4.7-10 mm broad during flowering period, 3.5-8 cm long and 7-18.2 mm broad when in fruit, nearly cylindric, tapering, apex obtuse;

distal sympodial leaf extending beyond spadix; true spathe absent;

flowers 2-3 mm;

tepals 6, light brown;

stamens 6, distinct;

anthers yellow, turning inward toward flower center;

pollen grains usually deeply staining in aniline blue;

ovaries 1, green, usually 3-chambered, sessile;

stigmas sessile, minute.

Berries, shaped like upside down pyramids, 4-6 mm;

seeds usually 6, tan, slenderly oblong to obovate, 3-4 mm.