[*] Flowers in 3 ranks, crowded in a close spike; leaves at the root and base of the stem present at the flowering season.
1. S. latifòlia, Torr. Low; naked stem or scape 4–9´ (rarely 12´) high, smooth; leaves all next the base, oblong or lance-oblong (1–4´ long, 3–9´´ wide), 3–5-nerved, contracted into a sheathing base; spike narrow (1–3´ long); flowers small (2–3´´ long); lip quadrate-oblong, yellowish on the face, not contracted in the middle, thin, wavy-crisped at the very obtuse or truncate apex, the small callosities at the base oblong, marginal and adnate for their whole length; gland and beak of the stigma short.—Moist banks, Vt. and W. Mass. to Mich. and Minn., south to Del. and Md.
2. S. Romanzoffiàna, Cham. Stem leafy below and leafy-bracted above (5–15´ high); leaves varying from oblong-lanceolate to grassy-linear; spike dense, oblong or cylindrical (1–4´ long); perianth curved and the summit manifestly ringent, pure white (4´´ long), the sepals and petals all connivent in the upper portion or galea; the lip ovate-oblong, contracted below the rounded wavy-crenulate much recurved summit, otherwise entire, the callosities at base globular and smooth; gland oblong-linear and the 2-horned beak of the stigma short.—High and cool bogs, N. New Eng. to Mich. and Minn., and northward; Norfolk, Conn. (Barbour); central N. Y. July, Aug. (Ireland.)
3. S. cérnua, Richard. Stem leafy below and leafy-bracted above (6–20´ high); leaves linear-lanceolate, the lowest elongated (4–12´ long, 2–9´´ wide); spike cylindrical, rather dense (2–5´ long) and with the white fragrant flowers either pubescent or nearly smooth; perianth horizontal or recurving (4–5´´ long), the lower sepals not upturned or connivent with the upper; lip oblong and very obtuse when outspread, but conduplicate or the margins much incurved, wavy-crisped above the middle, especially at the flattish and recurved-spreading apex, the callosities at the base prominent, nipple-shaped, somewhat hairy; gland of the stigma linear, in a long and very slender beak.—Common in wet places, especially eastward and southward. Sept., Oct. Very variable in size and foliage, often nearly losing its root-leaves at flowering time.—A variety, growing in dry ground but retaining its leaves and blooming somewhat later, has greenish cream-colored or yellowish stronger-scented flowers. E. Mass. and Del.
[*][*] Flowers in one straight or spirally twisted rank.
[+] Stem bearing elongated leaves at and toward the base, which mostly persist during the flowering season.
4. S. præ̀cox, Watson. Root of fleshy or tuberous-thickened fibres; stem 9´–2° high; lower and root-leaves linear or lance-linear (3–8´ long, 2–4´´ wide) gradually tapering to the base, the upper reduced to sheathing bracts; spike linear, dense (2–5´ long), usually much twisted, the axis, ovaries, etc., downy-pubescent; bracts ovate and gradually, or rhombic-ovate and abruptly taper-pointed, surpassing the ovary, the margins broadly hyaline; perianth 3´´ long; lip ovate-oblong when outspread, with rather small callosities at base, crisped at the rounded slightly recurved apex; anther and beak of the stigma very acute. (S. graminea, var. Walteri, Gray.)—Wet, grassy places, Mass. to N. J. and Fla.
[+][+] Scape very slender, merely bracted; the leaves with a blade all in a cluster at the ground, ovate or oblong, abruptly contracted into a petiole, commonly withering away at or before flowering; flowers small, and whole plant glabrous or nearly so; bracts small, sharp-pointed, not longer than the capsule.
5. S. grácilis, Bigelow. Roots clustered, tuberous-thickened; scape 8–18´ high, bearing a slender many-flowered one-sided or twisted spike; perianth barely 1½–2´´ long; lip oval when outspread, narrowly oblong in natural form, thickish and green above with thin white margins, the recurved obtuse or acutish apex wavy-crisped, the callosities at the base nipple-shaped.—Hilly woods and sandy plains, common. July–Oct.
6. S. símplex, Gray. Root a solitary oblong or spindle-shaped tuber; no leaves at flowering time; scape 5–9´ high, bearing a small narrow (rarely 1-sided) spike (1–3´ long) of very short flowers (perianth 1–1½´´ long); lip thin, white, obovate-oblong, the apex eroded and crisped, the callosities at the base slender.—Dry sandy soil, E. Mass. to N. J., Del., and Md. Aug., Sept.