Ophiopogon muscari Decaisne, Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 17: 181. 1867--1868; Liriope graminifolia (Linnaeus) Baker var. densifolia Maximowicz ex Baker; L. muscari var. communis (Maximowicz) P. S. Hsu & L. C. Li; L. platyphylla F. T. Wang & T. Tang; L. spicata (Thunberg) Loureiro var. densifolia (Maximowicz ex Baker) C. H. Wright; L. spicata var. latifolia Franchet; L. yingdeensis R. H. Miao; O. spicatus (Thunberg) Ker Gawler var. communis Maximowicz.

Roots sometimes with fleshy, tuberous part near tip. Stolons absent. Leaves linear to narrowly so, (12--)25--65 × (0.2--)0.8--2(--3.5) cm, stiff, (5--)9--11-veined. Scape (12--)45--100 cm. Inflorescence (2--)8--45 cm, many flowered; bracts setiform, 3--4 mm; bracteoles ovate. Flowers in clusters of (3 or)4--8; pedicel (2--)4--5 mm, articulate near middle. Tepals purple or lilac-purple, elliptic-oblong, 3.5--4 × 1.5--1.8 mm. Filaments ca. 1.5 mm; anthers equaling filaments. Style ca. 2 mm; stigma small, slightly 3-lobed. Seeds blackish purple at maturity, globose, 6--7 mm in diam. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Sep--Oct. 2 n = 36*, 72*, 108, (112*).

Forests, bamboo forests, scrub, shady and moist places in ravines and on slopes; 100--1400(--2000) m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan].