Plants 20–95(–100+) cm. Roots numerous, spreading, mostly to 1 cm diam., slender. Leaves persisting through anthesis, to 5, basal, reduced to sheathing bracts upward on stem, spreading, linear-lanceolate, keeled, 5–40 × 1.7 cm, rigid. Inflorescences: spikes loosely to tightly spiraled, 5–9 flowers per cycle of spiral, sometimes nearly secund; rachis moderately to densely pubescent, some trichomes capitate, glands obviously stalked. Flowers mostly ascending, white to cream, slenderly tubular, gaping toward apex; sepals distinct to base, lanceolate, tapering in distal 1/3, 6–10 × 2–3 mm; lateral sepals spreading; petals linear, falcate, 7–9 × 2 mm, apex apiculate or sometimes crenulate; lip yellow centrally, ovate, 6–9 × 4 mm, apical margin laciniate-dentate, crisped; basal calli incurved, long-tapered, to 1 mm; viscidium linear-lanceolate; ovary mostly 5 mm. Seeds monoembryonic.
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Plants 2–10 dm; basal lvs narrow, to 30 cm, 3–10(–15) mm wide; cauline sheaths 4–6, the lower with well developed blade; infl 5–16 cm, its axis minutely glandular-hairy, the fls closely spaced in a single straight row or an evident spiral, spreading, urceolate-cylindric, 6–10 mm, mainly white; lip recurved-deflexed, with a yellow center, rather shallowly lacerate-fringed around the end, papillate on the lower surface, its basal callosities 0.7–1.5 mm, higher than thick. Open wet places on the coastal plain from N.J. to Fla. and Tex. July–Sept.
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