The
photo at right shows a side view of the flower of single delight. Photographed
at Emigrant Springs State Park, northeastern Oregon...........June 25, 2004.
Single delight is an herbaceous perennial several leaves at the base and lower stem and a single unbranched erect flower stem from 5-12 cm high. The leaf blades are ovate-elliptic to obovate in shape and measure 1-2.5 cm long. The petioles range from one-half to as long as the blade. The blades are lightly to prominently toothed, the teeth rounded. One or two small bracts are often found at about midstem on the flower scape.
A single, fragrant flower is found atop the scape. The white or pinkish flower is about 1.5-2.5 cm wide with spreading petals. The sepals are about one-quarter the length of the petals and become reflexed in bloom. The petals are ovate-lanceolate in shape. The ovary is large and rounded with a thick stigma and expanded, lobed style from 2-4 mm long at the tip (See photos above and at right.). The fruit is an erect, globose capsule from 6-7 mm thick.
Single delight may be found in humus soils rich in coniferous wood on the floor of coniferous forests or occasionally under young deciduous forests. It may be found may be found from near sea level to well up into the mountains.
Single delight may be found from Alaska south to the Pacific Northwest where it is found in coniferous forests on both sides of the Cascades to California. It is found eastward in the west to Idaho and New Mexico. It is found in northeastern America as far south as Pennsylvania.
