-
plant form -
botanical illustration -
botanical illustration
| Spiranthes lucida | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Cranichideae |
| Genus: | Spiranthes |
| Species: | S. lucida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Spiranthes lucida (
H. H. Eaton)
Ames
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Spiranthes lucida, the shining ladies'-tresses, is a species of orchid native to northeastern North America.
Description
Spiranthes lucida is a perennial, herbaceous plant up to 37 cm tall. The 3-4 leaves are basal, and persist after flowering time, unlike many other Spiranthes species. This is one of the earliest flowering species of ladies'-tresses, with flowers produced between May and August. The flowers are arranged spirally on a single spike. The flowers are white, with a prominent brilliant yellow lip. [2]
Distribution and habitat
Spiranthes lucida occurs from Nova Scotia to northeastern Wisconsin, south to Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri. [2] It occurs in saturated, calcareous, sandy or gravelly soils found in habitats such as riverbanks, fens, seeps, and gravel pits. [2] [3]
Ecology
Bees in the family Halictidae have been observed visiting the flowers. [3] The flower morphology is better adapted for short-tongued bees like these than for longer-tongued bees such as bumblebees, unlike most other Spiranthes species. [4]
_BB-1913.png)
References
- ^ "Spiranthes lucida". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- ^ a b c Sheviak, Charles J.; Brown, Paul Martin (2002). "Spiranthes lucida". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 26. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 11 February 2020 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ^ a b Hapeman, Jeffrey R. "Spiranthes lucida". Orchids of Wisconsin. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Spiranthes lucida". Go Botany. New England Wildflower Society. Retrieved 11 February 2020.