Rare in Quebec and Ontario. Formerly known from widely scattered stations in the Carolinian Zone, but now found only farther north and east in southern Ontario. Not known on the Bruce Peninsula, sometimes abundant in sheltered sphagnous bogs, especially in Muskoka. In the Ottawa District occurs primarily in the Mixed Forest Region, in several parts of the Mer Bleue Bog and in two small peatlands on the Canadian Shield. Large colonies thrive in sunny openings near scattered Black Spruce and Tamarack where the sphagnum-covered fen floor is very wet and loosely consolidated. Shrubs are thinly scattered or absent, and sedges are most common.

Height to 60 cm.
Stem erect, leafy.
Leaves 2 -3, elliptic to lanceolate, green, keeled, up to 20 X 3 cm., sheathing the stem below, becoming bracts above.
Raceme loosely to densely flowered, 20 - 30 flowers.
Flowers bright white, labellum tongue-shaped, finely fringed. Fragrance none or faintly spicy.

Almost exclusively an inhabitant of open black spruce-tamarack bogs, the 'cranberry bogs'. Found in association with Pogonia ophioglossoides and Calopogan tuberosus..

Orchids of Bruce & Grey
Orchids of Ontario
The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol III - 1