The flower may be up to 5 cm long and is mostly pale pinkish purple with darker rose-pink streaks at the center and a white spot below.

The flower is resupinated, with the reproductive parts curving around to point toward the back of the corolla; this forces a visiting insect to rub against them and thereby transfer pollen.

Periodic wildfire is common in this type of habitat in its natural state, a process which keeps the taller vegetation from shading smaller herbs and shrubs.

[2] Many occurrences are located on the Avon Park Air Force Range, where the military is required to monitor them because of the species' federally threatened status.

The plant is apparently very attractive to white-tailed deer and eastern cottontails, which consume the herbage, and it plays host to many butterfly species, including long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) and southern cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus).