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.
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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Horticultural Information
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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