Photo by Jeff Nesta
Spiranthes lucida, commonly known as shining lady’s tresses, is a perennial orchid native to northeastern North America, including Wisconsin where it reaches the western edge of its range. It typically grows up to 15 inches tall and produces white flowers in a spiral arrangement along a single spike, each featuring a yellow lip. The basal leaves are lance-oblong and remain during flowering.
The species blooms from late May and fruits by mid-Summer. It inhabits saturated but not flooded, calcareous soils in places such as streambanks, fens, river terraces, and old quarries. Its range extends from Nova Scotia to northeastern Wisconsin, and south to Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri.
Pollination is primarily carried out by short-tongued bees, particularly from the Halictidae family. In some regions, including Wisconsin, it is listed as a species of special concern due to habitat sensitivity.
Sources:
USDA PLANTS Database — Spiranthes lucida species profile
Minnesota Wildflowers — Spiranthes lucida (Shining Lady’s Tresses)
Illinois Wildflowers — Shining Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes lucida)
Flora of North America — Spiranthes lucida botanical description
Michigan Flora / University of Michigan — Spiranthes lucida account
NatureServe Explorer — Spiranthes lucida conservation status and distribution
UW–Madison Division of Extension — Calcareous fen and groundwater‑dependent plant species
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