Found in light woods during May.

The single stalk is flattened beneath the leaf, from 3 to 5 inches in height, and slender. It is smooth, and strongly tinted with purple, even with crimson, at the foot.

The lower leaves are small, clasping, and alternate; the upper are on stems, and form a terminal cluster of 4 or 5 around the flowers,—they are oval, with an entire margin, and a thick texture, smooth, and glossy green.

The irregular-shaped flower, like a gayly colored fly, has a very delicate and fine texture, and is of an exquisite clear crimson tint, the one fringed petal being white, tinged with a light yellow-green. From 1 to 3 flowers, on their green stems, form a terminal cluster.

These flowers are the idle beauties of the plant; the unnoted homely Cinderella flower, very small, misshapen, and dull, that sits down in the dust on a little side-stem close to the root, bears the seeds. The leaves last over winter, turning a rich crimson-bronze hue, almost as brilliant as the flowers; the fresh leaves are simultaneous in growth with the blossoms, unfolding as the buds swell. White varieties are occasionally found.