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western ladies tresses

hooded ladies tresses

Habit Herbs 25–55 cm tall. Herbs 6–30 cm tall.
Leaves

3–4, ellipticlanceolate; to 35 × 3 cm.

3–6, linearlanceolate; to 25 × 2 cm.

Inflorescences

dense tightly spiraled spikes, generally 3-ranked, 10–60-flowered;

rachis glabrous to sparsely pubescent.

dense tightly spiraled spikes, generally 3-ranked, 10–60-flowered;

rachis glabrous to sparsely pubescent.

Flowers

ascending;

sepals and petals lanceolate; creamy-yellow to yellowish, converging with lip to form a tube;

tips spreading, 7–8 × 1–2.5 mm;

lateral sepals oblique;

lip ovate to lanceolate; concave to loosely folded with a narrowed apex, 6–8 × 3–4 mm.

horizontal to ascending;

sepals and petals lanceolate; creamy-white to greenish white, converging with lip to form a hood;

tips appressed together, 8–13 × 3–4 mm;

lateral sepals sickle-shaped;

petals linear-lanceolate, 8–11 × 1–2 mm;

lip fiddle-shaped, strongly reflexed, often past 90?;

apex broad and finely irregularly cleft, 5–10 × 2–6 mm.

2n

=44.

=44, 66, 88.

Spiranthes porrifolia

Spiranthes romanzoffiana

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Stream banks, river banks, seeps, riparian meadows. Flowering Jun–Jul. 0–2700m. Casc, CR, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, NV, WA. Native.

The spreading perianth tips and narrow-tipped lip distinguish this species from the more common S. romanzoffiana.

Seaside dunes, stream and river banks, seeps, fens, riparian meadows. Flowering Jun–Sep. 0–2600m. BR, BW, Casc, CR, ECas, Est, Lava, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to AK, east to Newfoundland and NY, southeast to CO and NM; Great Britain. Native.

This is the most commonly encountered Spiranthes in Oregon, occurring in a number of habitats from oceanside dunes to montane meadows. The fiddle-shaped lip is distinctive for this species.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 330
James Riser
Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 330
James Riser
Sibling taxa
S. romanzoffiana, S. stellata
S. porrifolia, S. stellata
Synonyms Spiranthes romanzoffiana var. porrifolia Spiranthes romanzoffiana var. romanzoffiana
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