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Spiranthes eatonii
Spiranthes eatonii Ames ex P.M. Brown
Eaton's Ladies'-tresses, Eaton's Lady's Tresses
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: SPEA
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
"Plants 15–55 cm. Roots mostly to 1 cm diam., few, stout. Leaves withering at anthesis, 3–7, basal, spreading, oblanceolate, 5.5 × 0.75–1 cm. Spikes secund to tightly spiraled, 8–10 flowers per cycle of spiral; rachis pubescent, some trichomes capitate, glands obviously stalked. Flowers white; sepals green at base, spatulate, 3–4.5 × 1 mm; petals green at base, linear to lance-oblong, 3–4.5 × 1 mm, apex acute to obtuse; lip with distinct green central portion, ovate to oblong, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, narrowed to rounded apex; veins several, divergent; basal calli pointed outward, thickened, mostly to 1 mm; viscidium linear-lanceolate; ovary mostly 3 mm. Seeds monoembryonic." (Webref: 3).
"Spiranthes eatonii is easily confused with S. lacera var. lacera (and in herbarium specimens with S. floridana, S. brevilabris, S. tuberosa, and S. torta), except that it flowers in the winter and spring. It is the only white-flowered, basal-leaved Spiranthes within its range to bloom at that time of year. The narrow, oblanceolate leaves are distinctive within this group." (Webref: 3).
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 20 inches tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , GreenBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SCNative Distribution: "Southeastern coastal plain and Gulf Coast." (Webref: 3).
Native Habitat: Terrestrial, growing in dry to moist meadows, pine flatwoods and disturbed areas. "In dry to moist fields, pine flatwoods, wood roads, cemeteries; 0--100 m." (Webref: 3).
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsNational Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FACU |
Web Reference
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 35 - Go Orchids (2019) North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC)
Additional resources
USDA: Find Spiranthes eatonii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Spiranthes eatonii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Spiranthes eatonii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2019-12-03Research By: CBR, Joseph A. Marcus