Bracts: abaxial surface of distalmost sheathing bract (and often the next) sparsely and inconspicuously pubescent or glabrous when young. Leaves (2-)3-5, on proximal portion of or more evenly spaced along stem, alternate, erect to spreading; blade orbiculate or broadly ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 5.2-18.5 × 1.6-14.3 cm. Flowers 1-2(-3), small, scent intense, sweet; sepals and petals usually suffused with dark reddish brown or madder, or in west often spotted and blotched; lip oblance-ovoid to calceolate, 15-29 mm; orifice 10-17 mm. 2n = 20. Flowering May--Aug. Mesic to wet fens, prairies, meadows, thickets, open coniferous and mixed forest; mostly 0--1500 m; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Calif., Conn., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.J., N.Y., N.Dak., Ohio, Pa., Utah, Vt., Wash., Wis.