Spiranthes | |
---|---|
Spiranthes magnicamporum | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Cranichideae |
Subtribe: | Spiranthinae |
Genus: | Spiranthes Rich., 1817 |
Type species | |
Ophrys spiralis = Spiranthes spiralis | |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Spiranthes is a genus of orchids in the subfamily Orchidoideae. They are known commonly as ladies tresses, ladies'-tresses, or lady's tresses. [2] The genus is distributed in the Americas, Eurasia, and Australia. [3] The genus name Spiranthes is derived from the Greek speira ("coil") and anthos ("flower"), and was inspired by the spirally arranged inflorescence. [3]
These are perennial herbs growing from fleshy root systems that range from slender to tuberous, and are occasionally stoloniferous. Most of the leaves are basal, but some species have leaves higher on the stem before the inflorescence matures, often taking the form of a sheath around the stem. The inflorescence is a terminal spike with flowers arranged in a characteristic loose or dense spiral. As in most other orchids, the flowers are resupinate, twisting during development into an upside-down position. The six tepals may be separate, or the three upper may be joined to form a hood over the lip petal. The lip is thin to somewhat fleshy, and two basal glands produce nectar. The flowers are usually white, cream, ivory, or yellowish, and two species have pink flowers; a few are also fragrant. [3] [4]
The genus Spiranthes was first formally described in 1817 by Louis Claude Richard in his book De Orchideis Europaeis Annotationes. [1] [5] The genus's name is derived from ancient Greek words meaning "a coil" and "a flower". [6]
Since its original description, the genus has undergone many taxonomic changes. Spiranthes once contained all the species from the subtribe Spiranthinae. In 1920, Spiranthes was split into 24 genera. [7] Revisions in 1951 [8] and 1958 [9] placed more species into the genus. During the 1990s it was divided again. [10]
Spiranthes has recently received increased attention from taxonomists and systematists, leading to new species discovery and the resolution of many long-term taxonomic questions. [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
It is difficult to clearly define some of the species of this taxon because some of them are polymorphic, taking a number of different forms, [17] with some species belonging to species complexes involving several closely related and morphologically similar species (e.g., the S. cernua species complex; [18] S. parksii, a member of the S. cernua complex and probably a descendant of S. cernua. It has been suggested that this species is just another rare form). [17] [19]
The following is a list of species accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at March 2023: [1]
More recently discovered species:
Spiranthes are primarily pollinated by bumblebees, however other bee genera also pollinate various species, including halictid bees, and honey bees (particularly in Europe and Asia). [21] [22] [23]
Goodyera, commonly called rattlesnake plantain, jade orchids or ladies' tresses is a wide-ranging genus of orchids in the tribe Cranichideae. About 100 species of Goodyera have been formally described. With a center of diversity in East Asia, Goodyera is found across Europe, Madeira, North and Central America, Australia, and on islands from the west Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. They have a rosette of leaves at their base and usually many small white resupinate flowers. They are similar to orchids in the genus Spiranthes but can be distinguished from them by the shape and colour patterns of the leaves.
Spiranthes romanzoffiana, commonly known as hooded lady's tresses or Irish lady's-tresses, is a species of orchid. Collected by Chamisso during the Romanzov expedition it was described by him in 1828 and named for Count Nikolay Rumyantsev who financed the expedition. This orchid is native to North America, Ireland and Great Britain.
Spiranthes cernua, commonly called nodding lady's tresses, or nodding ladies' tresses, is a species of orchid occurring from Maritime Canada to the eastern and southern United States. As the common name suggests cernua means "nodding", or "bowed" in Latin.
Spiranthes sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese spiranthes, is a species of orchid occurring in eastern and southeastern Asia.
Spiranthes diluvialis is a rare species of orchid known as Ute lady's tresses. The species name diluvialis means "of the flood". It is native to the western United States, where there are scattered, mostly small occurrences in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. An occurrence was recently discovered in southern British Columbia. The plant faces a number of threats to its existence. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.
Spiranthes lacera, commonly called the slender ladies'-tresses, is a species of orchid that is native to Eastern North America. It has a widespread range and is found in a variety of open habitats, both natural and disturbed. It produces a spiral of white flowers in the summer.
Spiranthes magnicamporum, commonly called the Great Plains lady's tresses, is a species of orchid that is native to North America. It is primarily native in the Great Plains, but there are outlying populations in the east in areas of former natural grassland, such as the Black Belt prairies of the Southeast. It is found in both fens and wet and dry prairies, often in calcareous soil.
Spiranthes incurva, the Sphinx ladies' tresses, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae. This orchid is native to the upper Midwest and Great Lakes Basin of North America. The species was originally described as Ibidium incurvumJenn. in 1906. Long treated as part of a sensu latoSpiranthes cernua, the species complex was reevaluated and Spiranthes incurva reestablished as a separate species in 2017. Spiranthes incurva is an ancient natural hybrid of S. cernuasensu stricto and S. magnicamporum.
Spiranthes arcisepala, the Appalachian ladies' tresses, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae. This orchid is native to eastern North America. Long treated as part of Spiranthes cernua the species complex was reevaluated and Spiranthes arcisepala established as a separate species in 2017.
Spiranthes niklasii, also known by the common name Niklas' ladies' tresses, is a terrestrial orchid nearly endemic to the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas and Oklahoma with a few other known populations.
Spiranthes perexilis, the languid ladies’-tresses, is a species of orchid native to California and Oregon.
Spiranthes eatonii, commonly known as Eaton's ladies' tresses is a terrestrial orchid endemic to the United States, closely related to or a variation of Spiranthes lacera.
Spiranthes triloba, the panther ladies' tresses is a terrestrial orchid endemic to Florida.
Spiranthes bightensis, the Atlantic ladies tresses, is a terrestrial orchid native to coasts of the north-eastern United States.
Spiranthes casei, or Case's lady's tresses, is a species of orchid native to the northeastern United States and Canada.
Spiranthes igniorchis, or fire ladies' tresses, is a species of orchid endemic to Florida.
Spiranthes sheviakii, the old field ladies' tresses, is a species of orchid growing in North America.
Spiranthes× kapnospria, the smoky ladies' tresses, is a species of orchid growing in North America.