PHOTOS: Highlights from the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland.

The final leg of the National Spelling Bee started with 16 spellers and lasted more than two hours. Students aced obscure words like lophophytosis, pseudepigrapha, and ooporphyrin, while others struck out on loratadine, perduellion, and paillasson. Karthik Nemmani, 14, won over his fellow Texan, Naysa Modi, 12, taking home a $40,000 cash prize. (Reuters)