複叢生、桿高四至六米，直徑一至兩釐米，幼時顯紫色斑點，疏生短硬毛，後變無毛，節下常披一圈白粉。本港特有種，見於九龍山及中大校園，種名是為推崇胡秀英博士。她是中國第一位女植物學家，1968至1976年任教於中大，退休後仍講學，研究，編寫香港植物誌，中華食用植物等專書。

It grows in multi-stemmed clumps, each stem measuring 4-6 meters tall, with a diameter of 1-2 centimeters.  Conspicuous purple dots are present when young, so are sparse short and hard hairs, which disappear with age.  A ring of white powder is often found under each segment.  A species unique to Hong Kong, it can be found in Mt. Kowloon as well as on CUHK campus. It is named after Dr. Shiuying Hu to honor her contribution to the understanding of the flora of Hong Kong.  Dr Hu, who is China's first female botanist, taught in CUHK from 1968–76.  She continued to enjoy her plant studies after retirement, as an honorary lecturer, prolific researcher, and author of 'Check List of Hong Kong Plants' as well as other books related to Chinese culinary uses of plants.