Flower:

Erect raceme of ½-inch flowers, from mixed yellow browns to nearly red throughout flowers and stems. Flaring at the top are 3 sepals and 2 lateral petals similar in size and color, purple tinged on the edges and outer surface with various speckling and spotting of purples on inner surfaces and column. A yellow squarish column is in the center, erect and curving out. The broad lower lip is white with purple spotting, minmally lobed, spreading out and curled in, wrinkled throughout. The prominent ovary and flower stalk are consistent with the darker colors of stem.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are reduced to overlapping sheathes. Smooth throughout, leaves and stem color is paler yellow browns to brighter reds. Stems are single to multiple clusters.

Fruit:

Ovaries develop into hanging elliptic capsules.

Notes:

Brightly colored clumps of Spotted Coralroot stand out on semi-shaded forest floors of north-central counties and the Arrowhead, but its range extends to the southeast counties as well. Two very similar varieties, differentiation based on range, minor morphological differences and bloom period have been described for Minnesota. Until found and images clearly recorded for us, we are treating these with one general indentity description.