NameThatPlant.net: Spiranthes longilabris

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Asparagales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Spiranthes longilabris FAMILY Orchidaceae

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

Learn more about Spiranthes from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

Check out Jim Fowler's blog describing an October trip to NC's Green Swamp with Carolina Grass-of-Parnassus, Slender Rattlesnake-root, Long-lipped Ladies’-tresses orchid, and Pine Barren Gentian in glorious bloom.

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Spiranthes longilabris FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 049-12-005:
Spiranthes longilabris FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Ibidium longilabre

COMMON NAME:
Long-lipped Ladies'-tresses, Giant Spiral Orchid, Giant Spiral Ladies'-tresses

To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Spiranthes longilabris, Long-lipped Ladies'-tresses, Giant Spiral Orchid, Giant Spiral Ladies'-tresses

Jim Fowler jafslongilabris_4

October Brunswick County NC

Green Swamp

These flowers are arranged in a tight single rank or are sometimes secund, per Wild Orchids of South Carolina: A Popular Natural History.

Keith Bradley kab_s_longilabris_5088

December Lee County FL

Wild Turkey Strand Preserve

WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Spiranthes longilabris FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Spiranthes longilabris FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 049-12-005:
Spiranthes longilabris FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Ibidium longilabre

2153

Forb
Perennial

Native to the Carolinas & Georgia

Documented growing wild in GA NC SC

Rare, endemic to the Southeastern Coastal Plain

Look for it in wet savannas, per Weakley's Flora

map
Click here to see a more detailed map from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium,

or click here to see a map from SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

...Wet

LEAVES:
Simple
Basal (when present)

FLOWER:
Fall
White
Bisexual
Bilaterally symmetrical
3 sepals, two lateral and one dorsal
3 petals, the two lateral similar and a third (the lip) enlarged
stamens and pistil fused together into a column
Inferior ovary

FRUIT:
Fall
Capsule

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!