''Spiranthes laciniata'', the lacelip ladies' tresses is a
terrestrial
Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth, as opposed to extraterrestrial.
Terrestrial may also refer to:
* Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on o ...
orchid endemic to the south eastern United States.
Description
''Spiranthes laciniata'' plants are a tall species of ''
Spiranthes
''Spiranthes'' is a genus of orchids in the subfamily Orchidoideae. They are known commonly as ladies tresses, ladies'-tresses, or lady's tresses.[anthesis
Anthesis is the period during which a flower is fully open and functional. It may also refer to the onset of that period.
The onset of anthesis is spectacular in some species. In ''Banksia'' species, for example, anthesis involves the extension ...]
. The flowers are white to cream-white and arranged in a spiral around the stem. The lip is usually yellow in the center. Bloom time is from May to (at its northern range) September.
Distribution and habitat
''Spiranthes laciniata'' is native to the southeastern coastal plains, from Texas in the south all the way to New Jersey in the north.
It is a wetland plant and grows in swamps and marshes, sometimes even in standing water.
Taxonomy
The ''Spiranthes laciniata'' name was first published by
Oakes Ames
Oakes Ames (January 10, 1804 – May 8, 1873) was an American businessman, investor, and politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts. As a congressman, he is credited by many historians as being ...
in 1905, after
John Kunkel Small
John Kunkel Small (January 31, 1869 – January 20, 1938) was an American botanist. He studied plants in the southeastern United States and wrote a book about the deterioration of habitats in Florida.
Early life and education
Small was born on ...
had described the plants in 1903 as ''Gyrostachys laciniata''.
References
laciniata
Orchids of the United States
Plants described in 1905
{{Orchidoideae-stub