Spiranthes eatonii

Ames ex P. M. Brown

N. Amer. Native Orchid J. 5: 9, figs. on pp 14, 15. 1999.

Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 537. Mentioned on page 533, 535.

Plants 15–55 cm. Roots mostly to 1 cm diam., few, stout. Leaves withering at anthesis, 3–7, basal, spreading, oblanceolate, 5.5 × 0.75–1 cm. Spikes secund to tightly spiraled, 8–10 flowers per cycle of spiral; rachis pubescent, some trichomes capitate, glands obviously stalked. Flowers white; sepals green at base, spatulate, 3–4.5 × 1 mm; petals green at base, linear to lance-oblong, 3–4.5 × 1 mm, apex acute to obtuse; lip with distinct green central portion, ovate to oblong, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, narrowed to rounded apex; veins several, divergent; basal calli pointed outward, thickened, mostly to 1 mm; viscidium linear-lanceolate; ovary mostly 3 mm. Seeds monoembryonic.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–May.
Habitat: Se coastal plain and Gulf Coast in dry to moist fields, pine flatwoods, wood roads, cemeteries
Elevation: 0–100 m

Distribution

V26 1091-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va.

Discussion

Spiranthes eatonii is easily confused with S. lacera var. lacera (and in herbarium specimens with S. floridana, S. brevilabris, S. tuberosa, and S. torta), except that it flowers in the winter and spring. It is the only white-flowered, basal-leaved Spiranthes within its range to bloom at that time of year. The narrow, oblanceolate leaves are distinctive within this group.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Spiranthes eatonii"
Charles J. Sheviak +  and Paul Martin Brown +
Ames ex P. M. Brown +
Ala. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Miss. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Tex. +  and Va. +
0–100 m +
Se coastal plain and Gulf Coast in dry to moist fields, pine flatwoods, wood roads, cemeteries +
Flowering Feb–May. +
N. Amer. Native Orchid J. +
Spiranthes eatonii +
Spiranthes +
species +