Spiranthes lucida
Spiranthes lucida, the shining ladies'-tresses, is a species of orchid native to northeastern North America.
Spiranthes lucida | |
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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 | |
Synonyms | |
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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]
- plant form
- botanical illustration
- botanical illustration
References
- "Spiranthes lucida". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- 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.
- Hapeman, Jeffrey R. "Spiranthes lucida". Orchids of Wisconsin. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- "Spiranthes lucida". Go Botany. New England Wildflower Society. Retrieved 11 February 2020.