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Photographer: Paul Drobot
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Family Orchidaceae
Spiranthes cernua (L.) Rich.
nodding 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"
cernua: Latin for "nodding"
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 4"-36" tall forb; single stem with 3-8 scale-like leaves between the main leaves and the inflorescence |
| Flower: | white (rarely yellowish), 6-parted, slightly nodding only at the base, sepals not connected, side sepals either straight or only slightly spreading; 1/3" long lip usually with wavy edges; inflorescence a 3/4"-7" dense, spike-like, tight spiral (raceme) of several stalks with 3 to 4 stalked flowers per cycle; blooms July-Sept. |
| Leaf: | basal, narrowly lance-like, 4"-24" long with pointed tips, clasping, persistent when blooming, hairy leaf axils |
| Habitat: | sun; moist; bogs, prairies, fields, ditches; in slightly acidic, sandy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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 Rich.&phog=Robert W. Freckmann&spcode=SPICER)
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