Navasota lady's tresses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Navasota lady's tresses |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Spiranthes
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| Species: |
parksii
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The Navasota lady's tresses (scientific name: Spiranthes parksii) is a special type of orchid. This beautiful flower grows only in Texas, United States. It was first found in 1945. A scientist named Donovan Stewart Correll officially described it in his book in 1950.
Contents
The Navasota lady's tresses is a tall, thin plant. It can grow to be about 8 to 15 inches (20 to 38 centimeters) tall. Its leaves are long and thin. You can find them mostly close to the ground. These leaves often disappear when the plant starts to grow its flowers.
Flower Details
The flowers of this orchid are off-white. Their petals are shaped like circles or ovals. A cool thing about these flowers is how they grow. They usually spiral up the plant's stem. Each flower is about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) long. Underneath each flower, there are small, leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts have noticeable white tips. The petals on the sides of the flower have a green stripe in the middle. The bottom petal, called the lip, looks a bit ragged or torn.
The Navasota lady's tresses mainly lives in the East Central Texas forests. You can often find it growing along creeks. It prefers areas near the Brazos and Navasota River watersheds. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a specific river or body of water.
Growing Locations
In 1982, scientists thought there were only two groups of these plants left. Both were in Brazos County. Since then, biologists have found more of these orchids. They have been found in many other Texas counties. These include Bastrop, Burleson, Fayette, Freestone, Grimes, Jasper, Leon, Madison, Milam, Robertson, and Washington Counties. The group of plants in Jasper County is a bit far away from the others. It is the only group found in the Piney Woods area of Texas.
Why Is This Orchid Endangered?
The Navasota lady's tresses was put on the endangered species list in May 1982. This was done by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Being endangered means there are very few of these plants left. The main reason for their decline is the loss of their natural home. This happens when people build new homes, roads, or farms. These activities change the land where the orchids used to grow. Protecting their habitat is very important for their survival.
