An herbaceous plant, attaining sometimes nearly twice 
the height of a man. Leaves smooth, oblongly lanceolate, 
pointed, upper ones smaller, edge of the same colour as the 
rest of the leaf. Spike three-flowered (in the spontaneous 
specimen manyflowered) shorter than the uppermost leaf. 
Outer bracte of the length of the calyx, oblong, obtuse, 
membranous, immer lanceolate, concave. Segments (or 
leaflets) of the calyx mealy, three times shorter than the 
outer segments of the corolla, between green and purple. 
Outer segments of the corolla lanceolate, concave, shorter than 
the inner ones: two front ones rather larger than the other: 
inner ones three, nearly upright, oblongly lanceolate: /abel 
uprightly spreading, larger, slightly undulate, entire (un- 
notched). Germen oblong, tubercled. Style spatulate, 
longer than the stamen. 
The roots are said to be preserved in various ways, and 
eaten by the Peruvians. 
