Spiranthes australis

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Austral ladies' tresses
Spiranthes australis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Cranichideae
Subtribe: Spiranthinae
Genus: Spiranthes
Species:
S. australis
Binomial name
Spiranthes australis
Synonyms [2]

Spiranthes australis, commonly known as austral ladies tresses, is a species of orchid that grows from southern Caspian Sea and Himalayan Mountains to the South-West Pacific and north throughout Japan. It has up to about ten leaves at the base of a flowering stem with up to sixty small pink and white flowers spirally arranged around it.

Contents

Description

Spiranthes australis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with between three and ten linear to lance-shaped or spatula-shaped dark green leaves which are 80–180 mm (3–7 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. Between ten and sixty bright pink flowers are crowded and spirally arranged along a flowering spike 250–450 mm (10–20 in) tall. The flowers are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, ranging from deep pink to pure white. The dorsal sepal is lance-shaped to egg-shaped, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals are a similar size to the dorsal sepal but narrower. The labellum is white, has three obscure lobes and is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long. The labellum has a grainy texture and its edges are crinkled. Flowering occurs from October to March or later but the flowers are self-pollinating. [2] [3] [4]

Flower spike of S. australis in Barrington Tops National Park Spiranthes australis (habit).jpg
Flower spike of S. australis in Barrington Tops National Park

Taxonomy and naming

Spiranthes australis was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [5] [6] The specific epithet (australis) is a Latin word meaning "southern". [7] The taxonomic concept of this species was expanded in 2019, and its relationship with Spiranthes sinensis clarified. [8]

Distribution and habitat

Geographic range of Spiranthes australis orchid. Spiranthes australis Map.svg
Geographic range of Spiranthes australis orchid.

Austral ladies' tresses usually grows in boggy or swampy places but also in high-rainfall grassy places.

It is widely distributed from the southern Caspian Sea of Iran and Georgia (reported as S. amoena, synonym of S. australis) [9]

S. australis is the most well-known orchid in Japan. It is first attested in the Manyoshu collection of poetry, which was compiled ca. 760 CE. It is found in common places such as balconies, private gardens, and lawns. It is also seen in parks in natural spaces. [10] [8]

In Australia, it occurs from Queensland, south through eastern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria to Tasmania. It is sometimes also found in South Australia. [1] [4]

Conservation

Spiranthes australis is common throughout most of its range but is classed as "Rare" in South Australia where it is only known from the Mount Compass area. [3] [11]

Use in horticulture

This orchid is relatively easy to grow in a well-drained, sandy potting mix. It sometimes occurs as a weed in commercial nurseries. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dipodium punctatum</i> Species of orchid

Dipodium punctatum, commonly known as the blotched hyacinth-orchid, is a leafless orchid that is a native to eastern and south-eastern continental Australia. In summer it produces a tall flowering stem with up to sixty pale to bright pink flowers with heavy red blotches. A widespread and common species it is often confused with D. roseum and some authorities regard it as a synonym of D. squamatum.

<i>Pterostylis grandiflora</i> Species of orchid

Pterostylis grandiflora, commonly known as the cobra greenhood or superb greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. As with similar orchids, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves but the flowering plants lack a rosette and have a single flower with leaves on the flowering spike. This greenhood has a green and white, striped flower with deep red-brown markings especially on its "galea", and a sharply pointed dorsal sepal.

<i>Cyrtostylis reniformis</i> Species of orchid

Cyrtostylis reniformis, commonly known as common gnat-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It usually has a single kidney-shaped leaf and a flowering spike with up to eight reddish flowers with a shelf-like labellum.

<i>Orthoceras strictum</i> Species of orchid

Orthoceras strictum, commonly known as the bird's-mouth orchid or horned orchid, is a species of orchid native to eastern and southern Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. It has between two and five linear leaves and up to nine yellowish green, brownish or blackish flowers with two long, erect to spreading lateral sepals.

<i>Genoplesium fimbriatum</i> Species of orchid

Genoplesium fimbriatum, commonly known as the fringed midge orchid is a small terrestrial orchid found from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to thirty green to brownish-green flowers with red stripes and a red-tipped labellum with hairy edges.

<i>Caleana major</i> Species of flowering plant

Caleana major, commonly known as the large duck orchid, is a small orchid found in eastern and southern Australia. This terrestrial plant features a remarkable flower, resembling a duck in flight. The flower is an attractant to insects, such as male sawflies which pollinate the flower in a process known as pseudocopulation. In 1986 this orchid was featured on an Australian postage stamp.

<i>Pterostylis parviflora</i> Species of orchid

Pterostylis parviflora, commonly known as the tiny greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. As with similar orchids, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves but the flowering plants lack a rosette at the base but have up to eight tiny green, white and brown flowers.

<i>Pterostylis pedunculata</i> Species of orchid

Pterostylis pedunculata, commonly known as the upright maroonhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. Flowering plants have a rosette of two to six stalked leaves and a single green flower which is white near its base and tinged with reddish brown to black and with a gap between the petals and lateral sepals. It is common and widespread in a range of habitats.

<i>Pterostylis revoluta</i> Species of orchid

Pterostylis revoluta, commonly known as the autumn greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. As with similar greenhoods, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves flat on the ground but the flowering plants have a single flower with leaves on the flowering spike. This greenhood has white and green flowers that have a long, curved, pointed labellum which extends beyond the sinus between the lateral sepals.

<i>Pterostylis squamata</i> Species of orchid

Pterostylis squamata, commonly known as the southern rustyhood or ruddyhood, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. Flowering plants have up to ten translucent green flowers with reddish-brown markings and a hairy, insect-like labellum. Non-flowering plants have a rosette of four to eight egg-shaped leaves. This species is very similar to Pterostylis rufa which has a narrower labellum and other minor differences.

<i>Pterostylis reflexa</i> Species of orchid

Pterostylis reflexa, commonly known as the dainty greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. As with similar greenhoods, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves flat on the ground but the flowering plants have a single flower with leaves on the flowering stem. This greenhood has a relatively large white, green and light brown flower with a long, curved dorsal sepal and a protruding labellum.

Prasophyllum australe, commonly known as southern leek orchid or austral leek orchid, is a species of orchid and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to fifty scented, greenish-brown flowers with red stripes.

Prasophyllum gibbosum, commonly known as the humped leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a late-flowering leek orchid with a single smooth, tubular leaf and up to eighty or more purplish-red and white flowers with a smooth labellum. It is similar to P. cucullatum but that species has a frilly labellum, usually a shorter flowering stem and an earlier flowering period.

Prasophyllum macrostachyum, commonly known as the laughing leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf and up to thirty yellowish-green and purple flowers. It is one of the few Western Australian leek orchids which is not stimulated by summer fires and also has an unusually long flowering period.

<i>Prasophyllum patens</i> Species of orchid

Prasophyllum patens, commonly known as the broad-lipped leek orchid or sandstone leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the Sydney region of New South Wales. It has a single tubular green leaf and up to thirty green to greenish-brown, lemon-scented flowers with a white labellum.

<i>Prasophyllum striatum</i> Species of orchid

Prasophyllum striatum, commonly known as the streaked leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin, tube-shaped leaf and up to ten greenish and whitish flowers with reddish or purplish stripes. It differs from other leek orchids in having a very thin leaf and prominently streaked flowers.

Genoplesium rufum, commonly known as the rufous midge-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin, wiry leaf and up to twenty five drooping, pinkish or reddish flowers on a flowering stem which is fused to the lower part of the leaf. It was formerly thought to range from Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania but specimens in other states are now assigned to Genoplesium clivicola.

<i>Chiloglottis diphylla</i> Species of orchid

Chiloglottis diphylla, commonly known as the common wasp orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to Australia. It has two broad leaves and a single narrow, greenish brown to reddish flower with a black, insect-like callus covering the upper surface of the labellum.

<i>Corybas fimbriatus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas fimbriatus, commonly known as the fringed helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a broad egg-shaped to round leaf and a dark reddish purple to crimson flower with translucent patches. It is similar to C. hispidus but its labellum lacks a creamy-white centre and is not covered with bristly hairs.

Dendrobium rigidum, commonly known as the smooth tongue orchid or smooth tick orchid, is a species of orchid native to tropical North Queensland and to New Guinea. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with wiry, hanging stems, fleshy, dark green leaves and flowering stems with between two and seven crowded, cream-coloured, star-shaped flowers often with pink or red on the back. It grows on trees, shrubs and rocks in a paperbark swamps and rainforest.

References

  1. 1 2 "Spiranthes australis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 Bernhardt, Peter. "Spiranthes australis". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 285. ISBN   1877069124.
  4. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Spiranthes australis". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  5. "Spiranthes australis". APNI. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  6. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen. London. p. 319. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 731.
  8. 1 2 3 Pace, Matthew C.; Giraldo, Giovanny; Frericks, Jonathan; Lehnebach, Carlos A.; Cameron, Kenneth M. (2019-01-01). "Illuminating the systematics of the Spiranthes sinensis species complex (Orchidaceae): ecological speciation with little morphological differentiation". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 189 (1): 36–62. doi:10.1093/botlinnean/boy072. ISSN   0024-4074.
  9. Akhalkatsi M, Lorenz R, Matchutadze I, Mosulishvili M. (2004). "Spiranthes amoena - a new species for Flora of Georgia". Journal Europäischer Orchideen. 36: 745–754.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. Gayle, Damien (17 March 2023). "Japan's most familiar orchid is found to have near-identical cousin". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. "Spiranthes australis" (PDF). Government of South Australia Department for Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  12. "Spiranthes australis". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2018.