Spiranthes lucida

Spiranthes lucida, the shining ladies'-tresses, is a species of orchid native to northeastern North America.

Spiranthes lucida

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
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
  • Neottia lucida H. H. Eaton
  • Ibidium plantagineum (Rafinesque) House
  • Spiranthes plantaginea Rafinesque

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
  1. "Spiranthes lucida". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  2. 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). 26. New York and Oxford. Retrieved 11 February 2020 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. Hapeman, Jeffrey R. "Spiranthes lucida". Orchids of Wisconsin. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  4. "Spiranthes lucida". Go Botany. New England Wildflower Society. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.