Great Plains lady's tresses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Plains lady's tresses |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Spiranthes
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| Species: |
magnicamporum
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The Great Plains lady's tresses (scientific name: Spiranthes magnicamporum) is a special type of orchid that grows naturally in North America. It gets its common name because it's mostly found in the wide-open Great Plains region. However, you can also spot it in other areas that used to be natural grasslands, like the Black Belt prairies in the southeastern United States. This plant likes to grow in different kinds of soil, including wet and dry grasslands, and sometimes in marshy areas called fens. It often prefers soil that has a lot of calcium in it.
About the Great Plains Lady's Tresses
This orchid is a perennial plant, which means it lives for many years. Each fall, it produces a tall stalk with many small, white flowers arranged in a spiral pattern. This spiral shape is why it's called "lady's tresses," as it looks a bit like braided hair.
What Makes This Orchid Special
For a long time, the Great Plains lady's tresses was thought to be part of a group of similar orchids, like Spiranthes cernua. It wasn't until the 1970s that scientists realized it was unique enough to be its own separate species.
You can tell Spiranthes magnicamporum apart from its relatives in a few ways:
- It has a much stronger, more noticeable scent.
- It blooms later in the fall compared to similar orchids.
- The two side parts of its flowers, called lateral sepals, spread out over the top of the flower in a distinct way.
