Rhizomes ± erect, often very deep, praemorse. Scapes typically 1, vertical but mostly subterranean, round in cross section, 0.4-1.7 dm, robust, glabrous. Bracts just at or slightly above soil, long-petiolate; blade medium green, not mottled, ovate to elliptic, 7-14 × 5.5-10.2 cm, not glossy, apex obtuse or rounded; petiole arising from scape apex at or near ground surface, 5-12 cm; bract and petiole strongly resembling leaves of Plantago. Flower in axil of bracts at or near ground level, ± erect, odor unknown; sepals erect to widely spreading, often weakly recurved near middle, green, oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 22-47 × 7-10 mm, margins entire, apex acute; petals long-lasting, ± connivent, ± concealing stamens and ovary, or erect-spreading early then ± connivent, erect to incurved, light maroon-red, purple, or greenish to yellowish, not spirally twisted, flat, linear-lanceolate, 3-5.5 × 0.4-1 cm, thick-textured, margins entire, apex acute; stamens erect, (15-) 22-30 mm; filaments olive, (3-)5-7 mm, slender; anthers straight, brown or olive, 16-20 mm, slender, dehiscence latrose; connectives yellow or orange, ± not extending beyond anther sacs; ovary white, greenish, purplish distally, ovoid, sharply angled, 4-9 mm; stigmas erect, divergent, distinct, purple or olive, linear-subulate, 7-20 mm, apex somewhat recurved. Fruits fragrance not reported, ovoid, strongly angled/winged, ca. 1 cm, pulpy, moist. 2n = 10.

Flowering spring (early Apr--late May). Lower rocky hillsides just above stream flats, under brush, edges of coniferous and deciduous forests, open grassy glades, river-flats, wet, seasonally swampy ground and edges of sloughs; 400--1400 m; Idaho, Oreg., Wash.