plant 1 1/2–2 ft. high, with stout leafy stem, turning black in drying; leaves erect, sheathing, adpressed to the stem, narrowly linear-oblong, acuminate, 3–4 in. long, the lower sheath-like, the upper passing into the bracts; racemes about 4 in. long, 6–8-flowered; bracts oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 1 1/2–2 in. long, suberect; pedicels slender, 1 1/2–2 1/4 in. long; flowers white, somewhat fleshy; dorsal sepal broadly elliptic-ovate, apiculate, about 7 lin. long; lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, about 7 lin. long; petals simple, oblong-lanceolate, apiculate, nearly as long as the dorsal sepal; lip deeply 3-lobed, about 3/4 in. long; front lobe oblong-lanceolate, subacute; side lobes slightly broader than the front lobe and strongly pectinate; spur very slender, elongate, 4–5 in. long, often included within the bract; column 4 lin. long, curved, apiculate; side lobes of rostellum much curved, about 4 lin. long; stigmas 3 lin. long, clavate-capitate and very broad at the apex. null
