Spiranthes spiralis

Autumn Lady's-tresses
Spiranthes spiralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Tribe:	Cranichideae
Subtribe:	Spiranthinae
Genus:	Spiranthes
Species:	S. spiralis
Binomial name
Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall.

Spiranthes spiralis, commonly known as Autumn Lady's-tresses, is the latest-blooming native species of orchid, blooming in August and September. It is characterised by a spiral inflorescence produced after the leaves have died down. The inflorescence can be very small (as little as 50mm high) especially in short grazed grassland. It occurs most frequently in close cropped grassland overlying chalk or limestone.

Distribution

The area of distribution is from the Mediterranean zone of Northern Europe northwards and westwards to the Western Himalayas. In Great Britain and Ireland its northern-most occurrence is on the Isle of Man. It has never been found in Scotland.^[1] In Ireland it has been recorded from County Sligo.^[1]

Among the synonyms are:

• Ophrys spiralis L. (basionym)
• Epipactis spiralis (L.) Crantz
• Serapias spiralis (L.) Scop.
• Ophrys autumnalis Balb.
• Neottia spiralis (L.) Sw.
• Neottia autumnalis (Balb.) Pers.
• Ibidium spirale (L.) Salisb.
• Spiranthes autumnalis (Balb.) Rich.
• Neottia autumnalis (Balb.) Steud.
• Gyrostachys autumnalis (Balb.) Dumort.
• Spiranthes glauca Raf.
• Gyrostachys spiralis (L.) Kuntze

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Cotton, D.C.F.; Dunleavy, J (2009). "Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall. (Autumn Lady's-tresses orchid), with notes on threats to its conservation status". Ir Nat. J 30: 70–73.