SPIRANTHESRich. - LADIES'-TRESSES
Scientific Description:
Small perennials with 2–6 fasciculated cylindrical to fusiform roots. Stem with lanceolate leaves or only with bract-like scales. Flowers whitish, spirally arranged in a single row on a twisted rachis, rarely axis not twisted and flowers secund. Bracts lanceolate, acute, ± sheathing the ovary. Perianth tubiform, tips of segments spreading. Labellum spurless, ± recurved distally, with 2 small callosities near base. Rostellum narrow, tapering into a bifid apex, holding the elliptic viscidium; pollinia 2, granulose. Ovary cylindrical-fusiform, bent towards apex, sessile, ± twisted, minutely pubescent.
Reference:
Renz J & Taubenheim G (1984). Spiranthes L. C. M. Richard, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 471–472.
Public Description:
Spiranthes, commonly known as “ladies’-tresses”, is native to Americas, Eurasia, and Australia. There are approximately 39 species in the world and 2 species (2 taxa) in Türkiye. The name “Spiranthes” is derived from the Greek “speira (coil)” and “anthos (flower)”, and was inspired by the spirally arranged inflorescence. Its flowers are white, yellow, or rarely pink and twisting into a terminal spike. Ladies’-tresses can be found in a wide range of habitats, from meadows and fields to forests.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2017). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiranthes, Accessed date: 08.05.2017.
Anonymous 2 (2017). http://goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org/genus/spiranthes/, Accessed date: 08.05.2017.
Anonymous 3 (2017). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Orchidaceae/Spiranthes/, Accessed date: 08.05.2017.
Güler N (2012). Spiranthes Rich., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 651–652.
