Spiranthes lucida (H.H.Eaton) Ames

  • Authority

    Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Spiranthes lucida (H.H.Eaton) Ames

  • Description

    Species Description - Slender, 1–2.5 dm; basal lvs lance-oblong, to 12 cm, 7–15 mm wide; cauline sheaths 2(3), much reduced, the upper scale-like; spike 2–7 cm, dense (especially above), the fls in ca 3 vertical ranks; axis of the spike minutely glandular-hairy; fls widely spreading; sep 5–5.5 mm, basally connate for 0.6–0.8 mm, directed forward (as also the lateral pet), somewhat spreading only near the tip; lip 5–6 mm, broadly oblong, rounded-truncate and erose distally, the distal two-thirds bright yellow or orange-yellow with white margins; basal callosities of the lip inconspicuous, under 1 mm; viscidium oval, 0.3–0.6 mm; seed-coat netted; 2n=44. Damp woods, marshes, and wet shores, calciphile; N.S. and N.B. to s. Ont. and Mich., s. to Ky. and w. Va. May–July. (S. plantaginea, a preoccupied name)

  • Common Names

    shining ladies'-tresses