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Orchidaceae
Spiranthes

Spiranthes tuberosa Rafinesque. Common name: Little Ladies'-tresses, Little Pearl-twist. Phenology: May-Oct. Habitat: In a wide variety of habitats, especially relatively well-drained woodlands and fields, longleaf pine sandhills, dry hammocks, dry pine flatwoods. Distribution: MA, OH, and MO south to c. peninsular FL and TX.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, FNA26, G, Il, K4, Mi, Mo1, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Brown (2002), Luer (1975); = Ibidium beckii (Lindl.) House — S, S13, misapplied; ? Spiranthes beckii Lindl. — Tat; > Spiranthes grayi Ames — RAB, Tx, Correll (1950), Luer (1972); > Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. var. grayi (Ames) Fernald — F; > Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. var. tuberosa — F. Basionym: Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. 1833

Links to other floras: = Spiranthes tuberosa - FNA26

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: UPL
  • Midwest: UPL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: UPL

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Kyle Filicky; tuber in foreground | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Kyle Filicky | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial found in a wide variety of habitats, especially relatively well-drained woodlands and fields, sandhills, dry hammocks and dry pine flatwoods.

Stems: Stem from a tuberous root, unbranched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves (3-5) basal (reduced to bracts above), short-petiolate, oval, 3/4-2 in. long, overwintering but withering before flowering.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers 10-35 in a hairless, narrow, spiraled spike; white (with no other coloration); less than 1/4 in. long; bilaterally symmetric; each consisting of 5 petals and petal-like sepals, including a lowermost pure-white lip with crinkled edges.

Fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.

Comments:

Height: 2-12 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial found in a wide variety of habitats, especially relatively well-drained woodlands and fields, sandhills, dry hammocks and dry pine flatwoods.

stems: Stem from a tuberous root, unbranched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves (3-5) basal (reduced to bracts above), short-petiolate, oval, 3/4-2 in. long, overwintering but withering before flowering.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers 10-35 in a hairless, narrow, spiraled spike; white (with no other coloration); less than 1/4 in. long; bilaterally symmetric; each consisting of 5 petals and petal-like sepals, including a lowermost pure-white lip with crinkled edges.

fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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