Western Ladies' Tresses

Plants 15–60 cm. Roots few–several, spreading to descending, tuberous, mostly to 1 cm diam. Leaves persisting through anthesis or fugaceous, basal, often on proximal portion of stem, ascending, linear to linear-lanceolate, linear-oblanceolate, oblanceolate or elliptic, to 34 × 3.5 cm. Spikes usually very tightly spiraled, rarely loosely spiraled, usually 3 flowers per cycle of spiral; rachis glabrous to sparsely pubescent, trichomes less (usually much less) than 0.18 mm, capitate glands often sessile. Flowers ascending, creamy to markedly yellowish, slenderly tubular; sepals connate at base, 4.6–11 mm, apex reflexed-spreading; petals linear-lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, apex reflexed-spreading, obtuse to subacute or subemarginate; lip lance-ovate to lanceolate, 4–9.5 × 1.9–4.3 mm, apex recurved less than to scarcely more than apices of sepals and petals, only slightly or not at all dilated, with subapical dense cushion of peg-shaped trichomes on adaxial surface; veins few to several, branches wide-spreading or often parallel; viscidia linear to linear-elliptic; ovary mostly 2–7.5 mm. Seeds monoembryonic. 2n = 44 [66].

Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Wash.

Flowering May--Aug.

Moist to wet riparian meadows, stream banks, marshes, fens, seeping banks; 100--2600m.

Spiranthes romanzoffiana Chamisso var. porrifolia (Lindley) Ames & Correll

Spiranthes porrifolia is a species of orchid known by the common names creamy lady's tresses and western ladies' tresses. It is native to the western United States from Washington and Idaho to southern California. It can be found in moist habitats, such as mountain meadows, swamps, fens, and riverbanks. It is a perennial herb growing from a tuberous root system, reaching a maximum height around 60 cm (24 in). The leaves are mainly located around the base of the erect stem. They are linear or lance-shaped, or sometimes nearly oval. The top of the stem is occupied by the inflorescence, a dense spiral of many flowers. Each flower is somewhat tubular, with an upper and lower lip, and cream to yellowish in color.

The specific epithet porrifolia is Latin for "leek-leaved".