Montana Field Guide

PLANTS: A long-lived perennial plant, usually with a single stem, 5-40 cm tall, that grows from a thickened, tuberous root. Source: Lesica et al. 2012.

LEAVES: Narrowly oblanceolate, 3-15 cm long. Leaves are longest at their base, becoming shorter towards the inflorescence, and persist during flowering. Source: Lesica et al. 2012.

INFLORESCENCE: A terminal bracteate spike that is viscid, 2-10 cm long. Few to many, white or ivory flowers spiral around the upper stem, in a 3- or 4-rank pattern. Bracts are 7-12 cm long. Flowers are perpendicular to the stem, 6-merous, but there is merger in each of the uppermost petals or sepals and lowermost petals or sepals. Upper, lower, and lateral sepals are greenish. Upper sepals and upper petals are crowded together, united below, and form a forward-pointing hood. Lateral sepals are fused for at least half their length but have tips that spread apart. Lip petal is 7-11 mm long with a dilated, reflexed tip. Lip petal is constricted like a violin at its mid-way point. Hood formed by petals and sepals is 5-10 mm long. Source: Lesica et al. 2012.

The genus Spiranthes comes from the Greek words of "speira" which means coiled and "anthos" which means flower. They refer to the spirally arranged inflorescence.

The common name of "Ladies'-tresses" refers to the inflorescence which resembles the braided locks of hair worn by women (USFWS 1990).

NATIONAL LINK - IDENTIFICATION
Go Orchids-North American Orchid Conservation Center

Ute Ladies'-tresses flowers from June to September across its range (Sheviak and Brown in Flora of North America (FNA)).

Hooded Ladies'-tresses - Spiranthes romanzoffiana
*Flowers: Flowers in spike are densely crowded. Flowers spiral on the spike creating 3- or 4- ranks or columns. Flowers grow more upright.
*Upper Sepals/Petals: Sepals are partially fused and united with the petals, forming a true hood over the stamens and pistil. Hood is shorter, 5-10 mm long.
*Lip Petal: Partially hidden by the hood, making it difficult to see when viewed from the side. Petal is constricted in the middle, like a violin, and has an acute tip. Spur is absent.
*Habitat: Wet meadows, fens, and occasionally in grasslands, from valleys to subalpine.

Ute Ladies'-tresses - Spiranthes diluvialis, Federally Threatened, SOC
*Inflorescence: Flowers in the spike are spaced further apart, less dense. Flowers spiral on the spike creating 3-ranks or columns.
*Upper Sepals/Petals: Form a less distinct hood and are more long and slender. Both are separated for most of their length, connecting only at their base. Hood is 7-12 mm long.
*Lip Petal: Clearly visible when viewed from the side. Petal is not constricted in the middle and has a blunt tip. Spur is absent.
*Habitat: Wet, calcareous, riparian meadows in valleys.

Bog Orchids - Platanthera species
*Flowers: Arranged in a spike-like raceme, but do not spiral around the stalk.
*Lip petal: Forms a downward pointing spur.
*Leaves: Either basal or leafy along entire stem. Those on the stem are sheathing, alternately-arranged, and whither during flowering.

Rein Orchids - Piperia species
*Flowers: Arranged in a spike-like raceme, but do not spiral around the stalk.
*Lip petal: Forms a downward pointing spur.
*Leaves: Basal and on the lower third of the stem. Those on the stem are sheathing and may be arranged opposite or alternate.

Wet meadows, fens, occasionally moist grasslands from the valley to subalpine zones in Montana (Lesica et al. 2012).

In grasslands, plants produce above ground stems only in wet years in Montana (Lesica et al. 2012).

POLLINATORS
The following animal species have been reported as pollinators of this plant species or its genus where their geographic ranges overlap: Bombus fervidus (Colla and Dumesh 2010).

Plants are long-lived herbaceous, perennials that reproduce only by seed.

FLOWERS
Stamens: 1 or 2, fertile, and unite with the style of the pistil to form a column (Lesica et al. 2012). Pistil: 1 style and a 3-celled, inferior ovary.

FRUITS
An ovoid capsule, 6-10 mm long containing many tiny seeds (Lesica et al. 2012).