Perennial herb to 1.5 m (4 ft) tall, with thick shoots from a large
corm; slender stolons also often produced, along with offshoot corms. Leaf blades to 60
cm (24 in) long and 50 cm (20 in) wide, arrowhead shaped, with upper surface dark
green and velvety; leaves peltate (stalked from back of blade); petioles large, succulent,
often purplish near top. Inflorescence on a fleshy stalk shorter than leaf petioles; part of
fleshy stalk enveloped by a long yellow bract (spathe). Flowers tiny, densely crowded on
upper part of fleshy stalk, with female flowers below and male flowers above. Fruit a
small berry, in clusters on the fleshy stalk.