Flower sessile or subsessile; pedicel, if present, 0.1-0.3 cm.

Flowering spring (Mar--early May). Acidic soils in low, swampy woodlands along streams, red maple (Acer rubrum) swamps, very wet in spring, plants often grouped on hummocks, possibly with sphagnum moss; 0--300 m; Md., N.C., Va., W.Va.

The flowers of var. virginianum are usually slightly smaller than those of var. pusillum and otherwise very similar. The name virginianum indicates the main area of occurrence, and this is the only variety found in the tidewater area, where it is frequent around Williamsburg. It can also be found in the Delmarva Peninsula.