Spiranthes vernalis
spring ladies'-tresses, spring lady's tresses, upland ladiestresses, twisted lady's tresses, spring ladies' tresses
Family
Orchidaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate, basal (rosulate)
Leaf Margin
entire
Leaf Type
cauline, simple
Leaf Shape
linear, lanceolate
Growth Form
forb
Flower Color
white
Flower Month
March - August
Height (meters)
0.2 - 1.1
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Growing Season
Warm season
Wetland Class
FACW
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
6
Field Characters
One of our only spring blooming species.
Animal Use
Ants appear to harvest nectar from the flowers (pers. observ., Author).
Natural History
Found in wet prairies, pine savannas, meadows, fresh and coastal salt marshes, swamps, and beaches throughout Louisiana and the eastern third of Texas.
Habitat
Wet prairies, savannas, meadows, fresh and coastal salt marshes, swamps, beaches, and dune areas, bogs, low meadows, damp ditches, loamy soils, open sandy moist or dry acid soils.