Rhizomes producing fleshy roots, and 2-8 cordlike branches at apex, cordlike portion 2-3 dm × 1-2 mm, gradually enlarging to 8-12 mm diam., nodes with brown, scalelike leaves and rarely roots. Stems simple, 2.5-4.5 cm. Leaves: basal 6-8, proximal 2-3 sheathing, blade light brown with darker brown line along midrib at base, falcate, scarious, distal 4-5 not sheathing, blade green or yellowish green, with few, subprominent veins, broadly ensiform, slightly falcate, to 1.5 dm × 1-2.5 cm, enlarging to 4 dm after anthesis; cauline 2-3, sheathing, proximal very similar to basal leaves, distal 1 or 2 reduced, herbaceous, blade falcate, not inflated. Inflorescence units 1-2-flowered; spathes green, sharply keeled, somewhat inflated, 2-6 cm, unequal, outer shorter than inner. Flowers: perianth blue, lilac-purple, or white; floral tube filiform, widening distally, 4-8 cm, lifting expanded portion of flower out of spathes; sepals spreading, with 3 parallel, toothed, crested ridges on white signal bordered with purple, tapering gradually into claw, 3-6 × 1.5-2.5 cm, base gradually attenuate, apex rounded, emarginate; petals spreading, same color as sepals, oblanceolate, 3-4 × 1-2 cm; ovary triangular, with shallow groove along each face, 0.6-1 cm; style 1.5 cm, crests narrowly triangular, 6-9 mm; stigmas oblong, margins entire; pedicel 0.7-1.8 cm. Capsules usually enclosed in spathes, oval, sharply triangular, each angle ridged, 1-1.5 cm. Seeds yellowish brown, 3.2-3.5 mm, smooth, with narrow, white appendage wrapped around seed, 3.4-4 mm, quickly drying upon exposure to air. 2n = 24, 32.
Flowering Apr--Jul. Rich woods, ravines, bluffs, usually in calcareous soil; Ala., Ark., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.
Local in the knobstone area from Monroe County southward. The Randolph County record is the only one from the glacial area. I found it in a low woods with beech and white ash. In the knobstone area it is usually found on the bases of wooded slopes and where found, it generally forms large colonies.
Lvs broadly linear, usually somewhat curved-arching, light green, slightly glaucescent on one side, well developed at anthesis, 1-2 dm נ9-25 mm, later elongating slightly; spathe 1-2-fld, the valves rather loosely sheathing each other, the lower ones often spaced on a scape-like stalk; perianth-tube greenish, often streaked with purple or brown, 4-6 cm, much exceeding the spathe, the limb 6-8 cm wide, light violet to lilac or purple, rarely pale or white; sep with a strong, several-ridged, yellow or whitish crest bordered by a white zone outlined in violet or purple, not at all pubescent; pet spreading, oblanceolate, slightly emarginate or blunt, with broad claw; capsule ellipsoid, ovoid, or obovoid, sharply 3-angled, minutely beaked; seeds orange-brown, arillate; 2n=24, 32. Rich woods, banks, and cliffs, in acid soil; Md. to Okla. and Ga. Apr., May.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
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