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Photographer: Jeff Hapeman
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Family Orchidaceae
Spiranthes casei Catling & Cruise var. casei
Case's lady's-tresses
Spiranthes: from the Greek speira, "spiral," and anthos, "flower," referring to the coiled or spiral character of the inflorescence, and hence the common nameladies tresses"
casei: for Frederick W. Case (1927- )
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 8"-16" tall forb; stems with 3 or 4 scale-like leaves between the main leaves and the inflorescence |
| Flower: | yellowish to greenish-white, 6-parted, stocky, obviously nodding; sepals not connected, side sepals slightly spreading; lip less than 1/3" long, smooth, fleshy, slightly wavy; inflorescence a 3/4"-6 1/4" spike-like, loose spiral (raceme) of several stalks with usually 5 or more stalked flowers per cycle; blooms Aug.-Sept. |
| Leaf: | leaf axils hairy, basal leaves lance-like to oblong, persistent when blooming |
| Habitat: | dry to moist; in sandy, acidic, sterile soil |
| (Glossary) |
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