Stems 1–3, simple or few-branched, 4–17(–25) cm. Leaf blades in inflorescence fan-shaped to spatulate-obovate or orbiculate, 4–16 × 3–11 mm; all or most leaves below inflores­cence minute, scalelike. Flow­ers: corolla 6–15 mm, lobes obovate-oblong, apex acumi­nate. 2n = 56.

Flowering late winter (southward)–spring. Moist deciduous woods, soils rich in leaf mold; 0–400 m; Ala., Ark., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.