Herbs, decumbent. Leaves 2-ranked; blade variegated, abaxially reddish purple, adaxially striped green and white, lanceolate-elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 3--9 ´ 1.5--3 cm (distal leaf blades wider or narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), base oblique, cuneate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, consisting of pairs of sessile cymes enclosed in sheaths of spathaceous bracts, pedunculate; spathaceous bracts foliaceous, reduced. Flowers subsessile; sepals basally connate, 4--5 mm; petals pink, clawed, claws basally connate forming tube; stamens epipetalous; filaments bearded. Capsules 3-locular; locules 2-seeded.

Flowering fall--winter (Sep--Feb). Hummocks and weedy places; introduced; Fla.; native, tropical America.