Great Plains ladies' tresses
Spiranthes magnicamporum Sheviak
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Flowering stems erect, green, simple, glabrous proximally, puberulent to stipitate-puberulent distally.
- Leaves
- Basal, usually withering before anthesis; blade linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate, .8 to 2 inches long, .4 to .8 inch wide, apex acute, base sheathing stem.
- Inflorescence
- Spikes, terminal, 10-50-flowered, with 2-3 tight spirals of flowers; rachis moderately stipitate-puberulent; bracts ovate, .28 to .9 inch, apex acuminate.
- Flower
- Sepals 3, white, petal-like, lateral ones curved and spreading, often arching above flower, linear-lanceolate, .28 to .43 inch long, .06 to .12 inch wide; petals 3, white, distinct, linear, .28 to .43 inch; lip white, sometimes with yellow center, oblong-ovate, .2 to .5 inch long, .12 to .15 inch wide, not constricted medially, glabrous, margins crenulate.
- Fruit
- Fruits Capsules, erect, ellipsoid to ovoid. Seeds numerous.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Calcareous tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies.
- Distribution
- East 2/3 of Kansas
Additional Notes
Comments
Spiranthes, coil and flower, alluding to the spirally arranged spike and magnicamporum great and plain.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Orchidaceae - Orchid Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 4-24 inches
- Origin
- Native
- Last Updated
- 2021-11-07
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: August, September, October