Racemes 10-44 cm. Flowers 2-28, conspicuous; sepals and petals often connivent around column, nodding; sepals 5-11 mm; lateral sepals often broadened at base, nearly auriculate; petals 5-11 mm; lip 2-7 × 1.5-4.5 mm; column 1.5-4 mm. Capsules 11-23 mm.
The two varieties of Corallorhiza striata intergrade in California and Oregon, although they are generally distinct. Small specimens from Quebec will key to this variety; they are not thought to be closely related to populations from the southwest.