Spiranthes triloba (Small) K. Schumann. Common name: Panther Ladies'-tresses. Phenology: Late Oct-early Feb (-May). Habitat: Pine flatwoods and calcareous Florida prairie. Distribution: FL Panhandle south to s. FL, primarily along the west coast of the peninsula. Restricted to FL.
ID notes: Spiranthes triloba is distinct from S. odorata in having slender stoloniferous root, small linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves, small fragrant flowers 5-8 mm long, a densely papillate lip, and lateral sepal held slightly angled above the flower. It also tends to occur in frequently burned calcareous prairie and open flatwoods compared to the flooded forests and cypress domes of S. odorata (Pace and Cameron 2016).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: The species has been much confused with (and usually casually synonymized under) S. odorata. See Pace & Cameron (2016) for a detailed account of the species and its history.
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, POWO, Pace & Cameron (2016); = Ibidium trilobum Small; < Ibidium cernuum (L.) House — S, S13; < Spiranthes odorata (Nutt.) Lindl. — FNA26, NS; Gyrostachys triloba Small. Basionym: Gyrostachys triloba Small 1898
Links to other floras: < Spiranthes odorata - FNA26
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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Horticultural Information
No horticultural data found for this taxon.