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.