Acaulescent, to 30 cm tall. Petioles often equaling blades, short-pilose; leaf sheaths puberulent, narrow, ending well below pulvinus; blades ovate to oblong-elliptic, acute to short-acuminate, acute to rounded at base, 6-15 cm long, 2.5-8 cm wide, glabrous above except the midrib, short-pilose and usually purple below. Spikes small, long-pedunculate, equal to or longer than leaves, 1.5-2.5 cm long; bracts few, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, spirally arranged; flowers white or the labellum tinged purple. Fruits not studied. Croat 6638. Common locally, but apparently restricted to certain areas of the older forest. Flowers throughout the year in Panama, but in regions such as BCI with a prominent dry season plants die back altogether during the dry season and reappear shortly after the rainy season begins.