Galearis spectabilis
Herb. Raf., 71. 1833.
Plants 5–20 cm. Leaves: blades 9–20 × 2–10 cm. Inflorescences: floral bracts lanceolate to elliptic, 15–80 × 5–20 mm. Flowers showy; sepals pink-magenta (rarely white), ovate to elliptic, concave, 10–20 × 4–6 mm; lip white (rarely pink-magenta), rhombic to lanceovate, 10–18 × 6–15 mm, margins entire or irregularly cuneate, spur conspicuous, clavulate, 9–20 mm, apex obtuse. Capsules erect, ellipsoid, somewhat triangular in cross-section. 2n = 42.
Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat: Moist, calcareous woodlands, thickets, and old fields
Elevation: 0–1300 m
Distribution
N.B., Ont., Que., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.
Discussion
Galearis spectabilis forma gordinierii (House) Whiting & Catling has white flowers; in forma willeyi (Seymour) P. M. Brown, the flowers are entirely pink.
Selected References
None.