Spiranthes praecox (Walter) S.Watson

Plants 20–75 cm. Roots numerous, slender, mostly to 0.8 cm diam. Leaves persisting through anthesis, to 7, primarily basal reduced to sheathing bracts upward on stem, spreading, linear to linear-lanceolate, 10–25 × 1–5 cm. Spikes loosely to tightly spiraled, 4–7 flowers per cycle of spiral or nearly secund; rachis sparsely pubescent, some trichomes capitate, glands obviously stalked. Flowers white, rarely green; sepals distinct to base, 5.5–10 mm × 2–3 mm; lateral sepals clasping lip, appearing tubular; petals adhering to dorsal sepal, linear, 5–10 × 1–2 mm, apex subacute; lip oblong, 5.5–11 × 2–6 mm, apex dilated, margins often crenulate or toothed, glabrous on adaxial distal surface; veins raised, green, rarely cream colored, prominent, branches divergent, extending nearly to apex; basal calli straight, long-pointed, slender, mostly to 1 mm; viscidium linear-lanceolate; ovary mostly 5 mm. Seeds monoembryonic.