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Spiranthes cernua - (image 1 of 5)

Taxonomy

Family: Orchidaceae

Habitat

Open moist places including calcareous meadows and pond shores, acid sandy areas, and prairies. These particular plants were growing in a fen.

Associates

 Distribution

Nova Scotia and Quebec west to southeast ND, south to FL and TX.

Morphology

Perennial to 40 cm. Leaves often present at anthesis; basal leaves narrow, to 30 cm; cauline sheaths 3-8, sometimes with a spreading-recurved blade. Inflorescence a terminal, spirally twisted, spike-like raceme 2-18 cm long, the axis glandular-puberulent; flowers crystalline-white, numerous, 8-11 mm, in 3 or 4 vertical ranks, individually somewhat spreading or declined; sepals distinct but scarcely spreading; lip ovate-oblong, often dilated and cordate at the base, the distal margin wavy or crisped. 

Notes

Flowers August to September

Wetland indicator: Facultative Wetland -

Highly variable. A robust, diploid variety that occurs on the southeast coastal plain, var. odorata (Nutt.) Correll, is said to have the fragrance of vanilla. Most other varieties are odorless.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

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