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Spiranthes tuberosa — little ladies'-tresses

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Facts

Little ladies'-tresses is primarily a species of the southern and southeastern states, but it enters New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island) at the northern limit of its distribution. It is relatively common in much of its range, but not so in New England. It is distinguished from close relatives by its pure white flowers and single tuberous root (occasionally the previous year's tuber persists).

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), grassland, meadows and fields, woodlands

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
terrestrial
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
Leaf arrangement
basal: the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant
Number of leaves on stem
absent
Form of lower petal
the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
Lower petal outline
the labellum is simple in form
Main color of lower petal
white
Nectar spur
there are no nectar spurs on the flower
Inflorescence type
the inflorescence is a spike (a long unbranched stem with flowers along it that lack stalks)
Lower petal characteristics
the labellum is simple in form
Sepal length
3–5 mm
Show all characteristics

  • Flowers

    Flower petal color
    white
    Flower symmetry
    there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
    Flowering date
    • August
    • September
    Flowers per inflorescence
    8–30
    Form of lower petal
    the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
    Hairs on flower stalk
    NA
    Hairs on inflorescence axis
    the main stem of the inflorescence is hairless
    Inflorescence length
    15–80 mm
    Inflorescence type
    the inflorescence is a spike (a long unbranched stem with flowers along it that lack stalks)
    Labellum position
    the labellum is in the lower position on the flower
    Length of flower stalk
    0 mm
    Lobes at base of lower petal
    0 mm
    Lower petal characteristics
    the labellum is simple in form
    Lower petal outline
    the labellum is simple in form
    Lower petal strongly red-veined
    no
    Main color of lower petal
    white
    Nectar spur
    there are no nectar spurs on the flower
    Nectar spur length
    0 mm
    Number of stamens
    1
    Orientation of side petals
    • the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards
    • the lateral petals slant somewhat downward
    Self-pollinating flowers
    there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant
    Sepal length
    3–5 mm
    Sepals fused only to sepals
    the sepals are separate from one another
    Shape of viscidium
    • the viscidium is lance-shaped (wider near one end, pointed at the ends)
    • the viscidium is long and narrow
    Spots on lower petal
    no
    Spur opening membrane
    NA
    Spur opening shape
    NA

  • Fruits or seeds

    Seed capsule orientation
    the capsule points upwards or is angled outwards

  • Growth form

    Plant green or not
    the plant is chlorophyllous (it has green parts)
    Roots
    the rhizomes do not resemble coral
    Underground organs
    • the plant has one or more swollen storage organs underground, such as bulbs, tubers or corms
    • there are only slender roots on the plant

  • Leaves

    Bract relative length
    the bract is shorter than the associated flower
    Features of leaves
    the leaf does not have any of the mentioned special features
    Leaf arrangement
    basal: the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant
    Leaf blade edges
    the edges of the leaf blade have no teeth
    Leaf blade length
    20–60 mm
    Leaf blade length to width ratio
    2–3
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is oblanceolate (lance-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
    • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)
    Leaf blade tip
    • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
    • the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
    Leaf blade width
    10–20 mm
    Leaves during flowering
    • there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering
    • there are no leaves on the plant when it is flowering
    Number of bracts on stem
    4–6
    Number of leaves on stem
    absent

  • Place

    Habitat
    terrestrial
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Massachusetts
    • Rhode Island
    Specific habitat
    • grasslands
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields
    • woodlands

Wetland status

Occurs only in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: UPL)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
absent
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
absent
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
absent

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Connecticut
unranked (S-rank: SNR)
Massachusetts
uncommon to fairly widespread (S-rank: S3S4)
Rhode Island
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), state endangered (code: SE)

var. grayi

Connecticut
unrankable (S-rank: SU), special concern (code: SC)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

7.  Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. N

little ladies’-tresses. Gyrostachys beckii (Lindl.) W. Stone, sensu Eames; Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. var. grayi (Ames) Fern. • CT, MA, RI. Fields, roadsides, open woodlands, lawns.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Spiranthes lacera:
labellum white with a central green or yellow-green spot, rachis of inflorescence sparsely pubescent or glabrous, and roots few to several, up to 7.5 mm wide (vs. S. tuberosa, with labellum white, rachis of inflorescence glabrous, and root solitary or rarely divided at the tip, 4–12 mm wide).
Spiranthes vernalis:
rachis of inflorescence mostly or entirely pubescent with non-glandular hairs, glands of rachis, if present, narrower or equal to width of stipe, therefore, the hairs pointed or cylindrical, and labellum usually cream-yellow centrally (vs. S. tuberosa, with rachis of inflorescence pubescent, in part, with glandular hairs, glands of rachis wider than stipe, therefore, the hairs capitate at their apex, and labellum pure white).

Synonyms

  • Gyrostachys beckii (Lindl.) W. Stone, sensu Eames
  • Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. var. grayi (Ames) Fern.

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Spiranthes