Leaves (8-)10-20(-26) mm wide, soft, stiff, sparsely to densely pubescent, old leaf bases persisting as bristles. Scape (4-)6-13(-18) cm. Inflorescences racemose, 1-2(-4)-flowered; proximal 2 flowers, when present, not paired; bracts (2-)3-5(-6) mm. Flowers: tepals 5-8(-10) × 1.4-2.5 mm, longer than pedicel, longer than ovary; anthers 1.5-3.5 mm; ovary oblanceoloid, 3-5(-7) × 2-3 mm, densely pilose; pedicel (2-)3-8(-15) mm, usually less than 2 times as long as bracts. Seeds black, lustrous, 1-1.3 mm, with rounded pebbling.

Flowering spring--summer. Seasonally flooded pinelands and bogs; 0--100 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., S.C., Tex.