The species is native to Colombia where it grows at the borders of the humid forests. It is a perennial terrestrial herbaceous species, evergreen, monocarpic (it flowers only once then dies), provided of 4-7 leaves, on an up to about 42 cm long petiole, of dark green colour with central rib purple above, purple red below, 40-60 cm long and 5-7 cm broad, lanceolate with long pointed apex, curved. The red inflorescence, at the centre of the rosette, is formed by one floral scape, about 35 cm long, ending in a raceme, up to about 18 cm long, formed by lanceolate bracts subtending the tubolar hermaphroditic flowers with 3 free lanceolate sepals with pointed apex, 2 cm long and 3 free oblong petals with pointed apex, 5-6 cm long. The fruit is a capsule containing numerous small seeds.
