Orchis discolor Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 586. 1814.

Plants 10–65 cm. Corms 7–30 (–50) mm diam. Stems scapose, glabrous, basally 1–2-sheathed. Leaves persisting over winter; petioles 3–15 cm; blade purple abaxially, green or greenish purple adaxially, ovate, 5–10.5 × 2.5–7 cm. Inflorescences 8–28 cm; floral bracts 0.2 mm. Flowers green, pale greenish yellow, or greenish purple, (5–)10–55; sepals distinct and free, oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 5–8 × 1.5–2.8 mm; petals linear-oblong to oblong-elliptic to linear-oblanceolate, 4–7 × 1–1.8 mm; lip 5–8 × 2.5–3 mm, with 2 prominent basal lobes, spur 10–23 mm; column 2.5–4 mm. Capsules 9–12 × 4–5 mm.

Flowering Jun (north)--Sep (south). In humus-rich soil of deciduous woodlands; frequently in sandy, acid oak-pine woods of Southeast, often in depressions under sweet gum; 0--1000 m; Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Tipularia discolor is pollinated by noctuid moths, the pollinaria attaching to either the left or right compound eye depending on whether the column of a particular flower is slightly twisted to the left or to the right (W. P. Stoutamire 1978). Tipularia unifolia Britton, Sterns & Poggenberg is an illegitimate name.