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Spiranthes lucida - (image 1 of 4)

Taxonomy

Family: Orchidaceae

Habitat

Calcareous fens, seeps, shores, ditches.

Associates

 Distribution

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to southern Ontario and MI, south to KY and WV.

Morphology

Perennial to 25 cm. Leaves usually remaining until anthesis; flowers in about 3 vertical ranks; sepals connate for 0.6-0.8 mm at base; labellum 5-6 mm, bright yellow or orange-yellow distally with white margins; viscidium ovoid; column white.

Notes

Flowers June to July

Wetland indicator: FACW

This species flowers earlier than many other Spiranthes spp. Not uncommon but populations are typically small. The relatively short flowers are adapted for pollination by short-tongued bees.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/spiranthes/lucida/

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