In Ky. this largely southern Appalachian mycotrophic herb is known only from a few localities on dry sandstone ridges and slopes in pine-oak woods. Flowers usually appear in March or April, but occasionally as early as December or January (D. Dourson and A. Risk, pers. comm.), or rarely even October (D. Boone and M. Klooster, pers. comm.; see also notes in W). The powerful spicy smell of its flowers has sometimes aided in discovery by botanists.