Rhizomes shallowly set, 1-2 cm thick. Stems arching, angled, 1-12 dm, sparsely hirsute distally; sheathing bract cauline, papery, caducous. Leaves short-petiolate, 7-12.5 × 3-7 cm; blade elliptic-lanceolate to ovate, glabrous adaxially, minutely hairy or pilose on abaxial veins, apex abruptly acuminate; prominent veins 3-9. Inflorescences in most leaf axils except distalmost and proximal 2-4; peduncle reflexed, axillary 2-3(-4)-flowered. Flowers: perianth whitish, tipped with green, tube 10-18 mm, distinct tips 3 mm; stamens inserted near middle of perianth tube; filaments glabrous or sparsely downy. Berries 6-9 mm. 2n = 20.

Flowering early--late spring. Roadside thickets; 0--200 m; introduced; Mass., N.H., N.Y., Vt.; Europe.

This European species is locally naturalized in New England (R. Angelo and D. E. Boufford 2000; D. W. Magee and H. E. Ahles 1999).