Spiranthes arcisepala M.C. Pace

Appalachian Ladies' Tresses

Habit: Spiranthes arcisepala. ~ By Wayne Longbottom. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Flowers: Spiranthes arcisepala. ~ By John Gange. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Inflorescences: Spiranthes arcisepala. ~ By John Gange. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Plant form: Spiranthes arcisepala. ~ By John Gange. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Facts About

Accepted Synonyms: none

Spiranthes arcisepala, the Appalacian Ladies' Tresses, is a recently described species that is widely distributed throughout the northeast, from Ontario south to Virginia and as far west as Ohio. It produces 1-4 basal leaves which are held upright but wither shortly after the plant flowers. The white flowers form a loosely coiled spiral along the spike and are distinguished by their pubescent, downward arching lateral sepals with tips that often surpass the ruffled, lower margin of the labellum. It grows in moist, short-statured habitats, such as grasslands, bogs, marshes, and fens, as well as along wet roadsides.

The conservation status of the newly described Spiranthes arcisepala has not been reported and may currently be under review in several areas where it occurs.

Pollination

As in most Spiranthes, bumble bees move upward on the inflorescence in search of nectar. Older flowers at the base of the stalk have more nectar, which makes them an efficient first stop for the foraging bumble bees.

Ecosystem Type

Bogs, fens, grassland, meadows, seeps

Characteristics

Habitat:: terrestrial

Leaf arrangement:: basal

Labellum outline:: the labellum is simple

Main color of labellum:: white

Nectar spur:: absent

Inflorescence type:: the inflorescence is a spike

Labellum characteristics:: the labellum is simple

Labellum length:: 7.2–10.1 mm

Sepal length:: 8.3–9.7 mm

Plant height:: Up to 46 cm

Show All Characteristics

Flowers
Floral bract length:

Up to 12.3 mm

Flower petal color:

white

Flower symmetry:

the flower is zygomorphic
Flowering date:
August

September
Inflorescence type:

the inflorescence is a spike

Labellum characteristics:

the labellum is simple

Labellum length:

7.2–10.1 mm

Labellum outline:

the labellum is simple

Labellum position:

the flowers are resupinate

Lobes at base of labellum:

0.9–1.2 mm

Main color of labellum:

white

Nectar spur:

absent

Number of stamens:

1

Orientation of side petals:

the lateral petals are ascending

Sepal length:

8.3–9.7 mm

Sepals fused only to sepals:

the sepals are separate from one another

Shape of viscidium:

linear
Fruits or seeds

Seed capsule orientation:

the capsule points upwards or outwards
Growth form

Plant height:

Up to 46 cm

Roots:

the rhizomes are non-coralloid

Underground organs:

slender roots

myco-heterotrophic or not:

the plant is chlorophyllous
Leaves
Leaf arrangement:

basal

Leaf blade edges:

the leaf edges are entire
Leaf blade shape:
lanceolate

linear
Leaf blade tip:

the tip of the leaf blade is acuminate

Leaves during flowering:

leaves are present during flowering

Number of bracts on stem:

Up to 2
Place
Ecosystem type:
bogs

fens

grasslands

meadows

seeps
Habitat:

terrestrial
Location:
Connecticut

Indiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

New Brunswick

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Nova Scotia

Ohio

Ontario

Pennsylvania

Quebec

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia
Facts and Uses

Mycorrhiza

Monitoring

Propagation

Restoration

Native to North America

Yes

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

Select a location to view conservation status:

	Conservation and Wetland Status
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Connecticut
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Connecticut Rank	N/A
Connecticut Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Indiana
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Indiana Rank	N/A
Indiana Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Massachusetts
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Massachusetts Rank	N/A
Massachusetts Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Maryland
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Maryland Rank	N/A
Maryland Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Maine
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Maine Rank	N/A
Maine Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Michigan
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Michigan Rank	N/A
Michigan Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: New Brunswick
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
New Brunswick Rank	N/A
New Brunswick Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: New Hampshire
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
New Hampshire Rank	N/A
New Hampshire Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: New Jersey
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
New Jersey Rank	N/A
New Jersey Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Nova Scotia
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Nova Scotia Rank	N/A
Nova Scotia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: New York
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
New York Rank	N/A
New York Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Ohio
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Ohio Rank	N/A
Ohio Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Ontario
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Ontario Rank	N/A
Ontario Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Pennsylvania
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Pennsylvania Rank	N/A
Pennsylvania Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Quebec
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Quebec Rank	N/A
Quebec Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Virginia
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Virginia Rank	N/A
Virginia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Vermont
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
Vermont Rank	N/A
Vermont Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: West Virginia
Global Rank	N/A
US Status	N/A
West Virginia Rank	N/A
West Virginia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	N/A

North America Distribution

Adapted from USDA data

Facts About

Pollination

Ecosystem Type

Characteristics

Flowers

Fruits or seeds

Growth form

Leaves

Place

Facts and Uses

Native to North America

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

North America Distribution