Orontium japonicum Thunberg in Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14, 340. 1784; Rohdea esquirolii H. Léveillé; R. sinensis H. Léveillé.

Rhizome suberect, 1.5--2.5 cm thick. Leaves 3--8(--12), dark green, lanceolate-oblong, oblanceolate, or lanceolate, gradually narrowed to both ends, 15--50 × 2.5--7 cm, thickly papery, apex acute to subacuminate. Scape 2.5--4(--10) cm, stout. Spike suboblong, 3--4 × 1.2--1.7 cm, densely many flowered; bracts ovate, 2.5--6 × 2--4 mm. Perianth pale yellow, 4--5 × ca. 6 mm; lobes small, thick. Anthers ovate, 1.3--1.5 mm. Berries red at maturity, globose, ca. 8 mm in diam. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Sep--Oct. 2 n = 14, 36, 38, ca. 72*.

Widely cultivated as an ornamental.

Moist places in forests, grassy slopes; 700--1700 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Zhejiang [Japan].