Pseudostems heavily blotched with brown or black. Petioles: margins of adaxial groove erect, winged proximally. Inflorescences: pedicels short; bracts of staminate flowers lanceolate or narrowly ovate, apex acute, abaxial surface yellow, red, or dull purple, adaxial surface yellow proximally, often yellow or dull purple distally. Staminate flowers white or cream. Pistillate flowers: stigmas deep yellow or orange; each locule with 2 regular rows of ovules.

Flowering all year. Abandoned gardens and disturbed sites; 0--10 m; introduced; Fla.; Mexico, West Indies, Central America; and South America; native, s Asia; Africa; Pacific Islands (, Oceania).; native, s Asia.