General:
Perennial herb from tubers, 1-4 cm long, with a few fibrous roots; stems 15-55 cm tall, 1-3 mm wide.

Leaves:
Basal 2 to 5, oblanceolate, 6-18 cm long, 1-4 cm wide; stem leaves bractlike.

Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal, spikelike raceme, 7-25 cm long, open to densely-flowered, the flowers small, white to yellowish, clovelike scent noticeable in evenings; sepals 2-5.5 mm long, lanceolate, the midvein green, the upper sepal pointed forward; petals 2-5.5 mm long, lanceolate, the midvein green, spreading, somewhat bent back; lip 2.5-5 mm long, oblong to somewhat egg-shaped, white, pointed forward or down; spur 6-10 mm long, horizontal, straight, pointed backward.

Fruits:
Capsules, ascending to erect.

Notes:
Where P. candida, P. elongata, and P. transversa grow together, P. transversa blooms first.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Piperia transversa Suksd.