Spiranthes ovalis var. erostellata

Catling

Brittonia 35: 123, figs. 1 [right], 2, 3. 1983.

Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 538.

Plants allogamous. Flowers: sepals 3.5–5 mm; rostellum and viscidium absent. 2n = 30.


Phenology: Flowering late Aug–Oct.
Habitat: Moist, rich woodlands, thickets, old fields, 2d-growth woodlands, wooded hillsides
Elevation: 0–900 m

Distribution

V26 1096-distribution-map.jpg

Ont., Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Miss., Mo., Ohio, Okla., N.C., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

In Spiranthes ovalis var. ovalis, all plants have fully open flowers, and the ovaries swell progressively. In most plants of S. ovalis var. erostellata, the flowers are never quite fully open, and the ovaries are simultaneously swollen on each flower. Because the varieties are largely allopatric, identification can be aided by locality.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Charles J. Sheviak +  and Paul Martin Brown +
Catling +
Ont. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, N.C. +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +  and W.Va. +
0–900 m +
Moist, rich woodlands, thickets, old fields, 2d-growth woodlands, wooded hillsides +
Flowering late Aug–Oct. +
Ibidium ovale +
Spiranthes ovalis var. erostellata +
Spiranthes ovalis +
variety +