C. DC., J. Bot. 4:217. 1866 Glabrous shrub, usually less than 2 m tall. Petioles 1-2 cm long, prominently vaginate-winged throughout; blades moderately thick, lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, sharply acuminate, rounded to acute at base (one side often slightly shorter), 10-22 cm long, 3-6.5 cm wide, markedly bicolorous especially when fresh, the lower surface pale green becoming brown on drying, the veins obscure above, only moderately prominent below, forming collecting vein. Spikes apiculate, green, to 8.5 cm long and 6 mm wide and pendent in fruit; peduncles nearly 1 cm long in fruit; bracts triangular and cupulate beneath. Fruits ovoid, glabrous, the apex depressed at center; stigmas 3 (4), short, strap-shaped. Croat 7307, 11537. Abundant in the forest. Though both flowering and fruiting plants may be found throughout the year, young inflorescences generally begin to appear near the middle of the rainy season (chiefly in September and October). The first flowering inflorescences appear in the latter part of the rainy season and in the early dry season, as early as November but chiefly from December to February. The fruits develop as early as March, chiefly from May to August, with some persisting until late in the rainy season. Easily distinguished by its narrow, bicolorous leaves and sparsely fruited, pendent spikes. The fruits are so large that there are fewer than ten around the circumference of the spike.