This flowering plant is widespread across much of southern Canada, the northern and western United States, and Mexico.

[1][2][3] It lives in dry, decaying plant matter on the ground in pine and mixed coniferous forests, and it obtains its nutrients from fungi via mycoheterotrophy.

[4] It has an erect stem about 15 to 50 cm (6 to 20 in) tall that may be red, pink, purple, or yellow-green to almost white.

The leaves lack chlorophyll and are reduced to colourless scales that sheath the stem.

Inside the flower is a column formed from the fusion of male and female parts, which may be spotted with purple or red.