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Spiranthes laciniata
Lacelip Ladiestresses
Florida native
Threatened Florida species
A frequent terrestrial orchid of scattered counties throughout Florida, more widespread in the southern peninsula. The range extends mostly through the southeastern coastal plain from Texas to New Jersey, with occurrences in more interior regions of some of these states.
The habitats of Spiranthes laciniata include swamps and marshes, wet roadsides and ditches, and the prairies of south Florida. These orchids are often found growing in standing water.
From ten to fifty flowers are arranged in a single-ranked spiral at the top of a densely pubescent stem from 20-95cm (8-38 in.) tall. The trichomes (hairs) are capitate (ball-tipped), helping to differentiate this species from other similar orchids. The flowers white to ivory colored, with a creamy-yellowish center and an oblong lip that is undulate and lacerate (wavy and ragged). Lacelip ladiestresses have 3 to 5 lanceolate leaves 4-40cm (1-1/2 to 16 in.) long and 1-1.7cm (3/8 to 2/3 in.) wide.
This species is most easily confused with Spiranthes vernalis, which has pointed hairs instead of the ball-tipped hairs of S. laciniata.
Spiranthes laciniata is a member of the Orchidaceae - Orchid family.
Other species of the Spiranthes genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Spiranthes brevilabris - TEXAS LADY'S TRESSES
Spiranthes cernua - NODDING LADIESTRESSES
Spiranthes eatonii - EATON'S LADIESTRESSES
Spiranthes odorata - FRAGRANT LADIESTRESSES
Spiranthes praecox - GREENVEIN LADIESTRESSES
Spiranthes sylvatica - WOODLAND LADIESTRESSES
Spiranthes vernalis - SPRING LADIESTRESSES
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: May 07, 2020
