Southern Slender Ladies Tresses Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis

Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis, or Southern Slender Ladies Tresses, is a herbaceous, perennial, wildflower in the orchid family. The plant is native to Eastern North America, but 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 and into the fall. Spiranthes lacera var. gracillis is one of two varieties. S. lacera var. gracillis, or Southern Slender Ladies Tresses, has dense flowers arranged in a spiral and blooming later in the season. This plant is hairless and leaves are absent at flowering. The other variety, S. lacera var. lacera, or Northern Slender Ladies Tresses has a looser spiral arrangement of flowers, blooms earlier, is hairy, and the leaves are present at flowering.

Southern Slender Ladies' Tresses produces 2-4 basal leaves which usually wither before or at the time of flowering in the summer or fall. It bears an inflorescence of up to 40 small white flowers arranged in a tight spiral. It can be distinguished from other species of Spiranthes by the distinctive green spot on its labellum and the edges are somewhat crenulate and rolled inward. It can be found in moist to dry meadows, fields, prairies, open woods, and disturbed areas such as along roadsides and in lawns. This orchid is pollinated by a variety of long tongued bees.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:

There are no known problems with this plant.