Rohdea urotepala Handel-Mazzetti, Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 57: 272. 1920; Tupistra urotepala (Handel-Mazzetti) F. T. Wang & T. Tang.

Rhizome slightly elongate, 1--1.5 cm thick, stout; nodes dense. Leaves 5--7, basal, slightly distichous equitant or subtufted, sessile, usually narrowly oblong-lanceolate, gradually narrowed toward base, 30--45 × 2--4 cm, margin crisped. Spike 3--4.5 × 1--1.5 cm; peduncle 1--6 cm; fertile bracts white or greenish, ovate, 3.5--6.5 × 3.5--5 mm, membranous. Perianth 5--10 mm, with a cushionlike, ringed, fleshy, smooth appendage in throat; tube 2--5 mm; lobes spreading, yellow, deltoid-ovate, 3--5 × 3--4.5 mm, fleshy, margin thin, entire. Filaments very short; anthers 1--1.5 mm. Ovary ovoid, ca. 3 × 2 mm. Style ca. 1 mm; stigma 3-lobed. Fl. May--Jun. 2 n = 38*.

* Forests, rocky wastelands; 1700--3000 m. SW Sichuan.