It is a rhizomatous plant with an erect and glossy green stem attaining a height of 3–5 m and a diameter of up to 20 mm.
[5] Geographically it is distributed in northeast Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines.
[7] [1] It is cultivated mostly in the districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Barisal, Tangail, Comilla, Noakhali, Feni and Chittagong.
The plant used for making the Shital pati[8] a traditional bed mat in Bangladesh and East India.
Traditional artisans make strips from the outer portion of the stem including the epidermal part.