Spiranthes vernalis Engelm. & A. Gray

Spring Ladies' Tresses

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Spring Ladies' Tresses is a native herbaceous perennial in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). It occurs throughout Alabama. Spring Ladies' Tresses occurs in lawns, on roadsides, in roadside ditches, in pastures, in cemeteries, and in open woodlands. It is a perennial with thick, brittle, fleshy roots. There are 4-5 linear to lanceolate basal leaves that have entire margins and are strongly keeled (folded). The leaves may be senescing at flowering time. Flowering stems are up to 18 inches in height. The lower portion of the spike has several reduced alternate leaves, becoming sheathing bracts up the stem. Flowers are produced in a spike. The flowers are loosely to tightly spiraled. Height of the flowering stems, size and number of flowers, and degree of spiraling varies greatly. The rachis (main axis of the inflorescence) and ovaries are densely pubescent with non-glandular hairs. The flowers are white in color. The three sepals are lanceolate and distinct, with the two lateral ones spreading. The three petals form a gaping tube. The lip (lower petal) is marked with light yellow or occasionally with two orange or brown dots near its center. The flowers are fragrant. The fruit is a capsule with many dust-like seed. This is probably our most common orchid species and can be abundant in some locations.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW- (NWPL)

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