Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Habitat: Moist to wet meadows, marshes, and riparian areas.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Endangered in Washington (WANHP)

Herbaceous terrestrial perennials, 20-62 cm tall; stems with foliaceous sheaths; roots fasciculate, slender tuberoids, fleshy, diameter to 1 cm.

Leaves persisting through flowering period, typically clustered near base of stem ascending; blades ascending, linear-lanceolate, up to 28 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.

Inflorescence a tightly-spiraled spike with 3 flowers per spiral, or less commonly loosely spiraled with more than 4 flowers per cycle; rachis usually sparsely pubescent or rarely densely pubescent, some trichomes capitate with obviously-stalked glands; flowers whitish, ascending; sepals distinct or connate at base, 7.5-15 mm; lateral sepals spreading to slightly curved inward, commonly raised above rest of flower or appressed; petals linear, apex acuminate; labellum often yellow in center, ovate or lanceolate or oblong, median constriction variably evident, sometimes nearly pandurate, 7-12 mm long and 2.5-6.8 mm broad, margins crisped or entire or apically dentate; basal calli prominent; veins not many, wide-spreading or parallel branching; spur mentum or absent; column short and cylindric; anther heart-shaped with acute or obtuse apex; pollinia club-shaped with slender viscidium; viscidia linear to linear-lanceolate; ovary sessile, cylindric, usually 4-10 mm.

Capsules.