Spiranthes sylvatica P.M. Brown. Woodland Ladies'-tresses, Pale Green Ladies'-tresses. Phen: Late Mar-Jun. Hab: Pine-oak forests and woodlands, live oak hammocks, interdune swales, rich dry forests, other woodlands. Dist: VA south to c. peninsular FL, west to e. TX.
ID notes: Compared to Spiranthes praecox, Spiranthes sylvatica has a laxer spiral (as few as 3-4 flowers per turn), much longer lip (recurved), relatively spreading sepals (oriented downward), larger flowers, with greenish veins on sepals and both lips, and the flowers overall with a more yellowish-green color (vs. bright white).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Syn: = ETx1, K4, Va, WH3, Brown (2002); < Ibidium praecox – S; < Spiranthes praecox – C, F, FNA26, G, GW1, K1, RAB, Correll (1950), Luer (1975)
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© Alan Cressler: Spiranthes sylvatica, New Tampa Nature Park, Hillsborough County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source