Spiranthes praecox

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Spiranthes praecox
Spiranthes praecox FI.jpg
Photo by Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org hosted at Forestryimages.org
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida - Moncots
Order: Orchidales
Family: Orchidaceae - Orchids
Genus: Spiranthes
Species: S. praecox
Binomial name
Spiranthes praecox
(Walter) S. Watson
SPIR PRAE DIST.JPG
Natural range of Spiranthes praecox from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common Name(s): grass-leaved ladies’-tresses, giant ladies’-tresses,[1] greenvein lady’s tresses[2]

Taxonomic Notes

Synonym(s): Ibidium praecox (Walter) House

Description

Spiranthes praecox is a monoecious perennial forb/herb.[2] It is also known to naturally hybridize with other orchids, like S. gracilis.[3]

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Southeastern Coastal Plain, being found from New Jersey, south to southern Florida, and westward to Texas.[1]

Ecology

Habitat

S. praecox is found in savannas, swamps, woodlands, meadows, pinelands, dunes, swales, and bogs.[1][4]

It is also found in disturbed like including vacant lots.[4]

Associated species: Tradescantia, Amorpha, and Spigelia.[5]

Phenology

S. praecox has been observed to flower from March through July[1] with peak inflorescence in April and May. A report of flowering in December also exists[6] and in New England, it is said to complete its bloom by the end of the second week of September.[3]

Fire ecology

Populations of Spiranthes praecox have been known to persist through repeated annual burning.[7]

Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

Cultural use

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Weakley A. S.(2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  2. 2.0 2.1 USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 10 January 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Ames O (1903) Natural hybrids in Spiranthes and Habenaria. Rhodora 5(59):261-264.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University accessed using Southeastern Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC) data portal. URL: http://sernecportal.org/portal/collections/index.php Last accessed: June 2021. Collectors: M.L Fernald and H. B. Meredith. States and Counties: Virginia: Norfolk City, Princess Anne, and Virginia Beach City.
  5. Louisiana State University, Shirley C. Tucker Herbarium accessed using Southeastern Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC) data portal. URL: http://sernecportal.org/portal/collections/index.php Last accessed: June 2021. Collectors: Charles M. Allen. States and Counties: Louisiana: Saint Helena.
  6. Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 16 JAN 2018
  7. Platt, W.J., R. Carter, G. Nelson, W. Baker, S. Hermann, J. Kane, L. Anderson, M. Smith, K. Robertson. 2021. Unpublished species list of Wade Tract old-growth longleaf pine savanna, Thomasville, Georgia.