A terrestrial herb 2.5–8 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.. Tubers elongate-ovoid, ellipsoid or nearly globose, 2.5–5 cm. long, 1–2.5 cm. in diameter, densely tomentose.. Stem erect, usually rather stout, leafy throughout its length.. Leaves 7–11, the lowermost 1 or 2 ± reduced to sheaths, the middle 3–5 suberect, ± spreading or even somewhat recurved, ovate to narrowly lanceolate, acute, the largest 7–15 cm. long and 2–4.5 cm. broad, the upper ones smaller, ± adpressed to the stem, lanceolate, acute, similar to the lower bracts.. Inflorescence 4–20(rarely –25) cm. long, 7–13 cm. in diameter, rather loosely 3–19-flowered.. Bracts leafy, lanceolate, acute, 2–6 cm. long, shorter than the pedicel with ovary.. Flowers curved upwards, pale green or greenish-white; pedicel with ovary curved upwards, 4.5-7.5 cm. long.. Dorsal sepal erect, very convex, elliptical-lanceolate, acute, 1.5–2 cm. long, 6–10 mm. broad; laterals deflexed, rolled up lengthwise, obliquely oblanceolate or semi-orbicular, acute, 1.8–2.4 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. broad.. Petals bipartite nearly to the base; posterior (upper) lobe erect, adherent to the dorsal sepal, narrowly linear, 1.5–2 cm. long, scarcely 0.5 mm. broad; anterior lobe curving upwards and outwards like a horn, linear, tapering in the upper part, fleshy, 2–4 cm. long, 2–3 mm. broad in lower part.. Lip tripartite from a basal undivided part ± 2 mm. long; middle lobe deflexed and ± incurved, linear, obtuse, 2–3.5 cm. long, ± 1 mm. broad; side lobes projecting forward but upright on each side of the column, lanceolate or rarely lanceolate-linear, acute, usually 6–10 mm. but rarely as much as 17 mm. long, 1.5–3 mm. broad.. Spur ± parallel to the ovary and pedicel, clavately swollen at the apex, 5.5–7.5 cm. long.. Anther erect, 5–8 mm. high, canals porrect with upcurved ends, 1.3–1.9 cm. long.. Stigmas porrect, abruptly widened and truncate at the apex, 1.3–1.8 cm. long.. Rostellum triangular, acute, 3–5 mm. long.
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Flowers greenish or green with white lip, sometimes sweetly scented.[Williamson & Gassner's field notes say that the woodland form is heavily scented, the grassland form is not].Pedicel and ovary 4.5–7.5 cm long, curved up.
Lip 3-lobed to c. 2 mm from base; mid-lobe deflexed, 16–35 × 1 mm, linear; side lobes 6–12 × 1–3 mm, lanceolate, the edge often toothed, clasping column; spur 5.5–7.5 cm long, pendent, swollen at apex.
Leaves 7–11, the lowermost 1–2 sheath-like, the mid-stem leaves suberect, the largest 7–15 × 2–4.5 cm, ovate or lanceolate; the uppermost grading into the bracts.
Petals 2-lobed almost to base, upper lobe 15–20 × 0.5 mm, filiform, adnate to dorsal sepal; lower lobe curving up, 20–40 × 1–3 mm, horn-like, rather fleshy.
Anther erect, 5–8 mm high; canals 13–19 mm long, porrect, the tips upturned; stigmas porrect, 13–18 mm long, slender but enlarged and truncate at apex.
Dorsal sepal erect, 14–20 × 6–10 mm, elliptic, convex; lateral sepals deflexed, 18–24 × 8–15 mm, rolled lengthwise.
Inflorescence 4–20 × 7–13 cm, laxly or fairly densely few-to several-flowered; bracts to 6 cm long.
Terrestrial herb 25–80 cm tall; tubers to 5 × 2.5 cm, ovoid or ellipsoid.
Rather loose raceme of large greenish-white flowers
An erect herb 1-21/2 ft. high with leafy stem
Rostellum mid-lobe 3–5 mm long, triangular.
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