Spiranthes odorata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spiranthes odorata |
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| Genus: |
Spiranthes
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| Species: |
odorata
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Spiranthes odorata, also known as the marsh lady's tresses or common lady's tresses, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This plant is native to the southeastern parts of the United States. You can find it from Texas all the way east to Delaware. It likes to grow in places that are a bit wet and have some shade. The soil it grows in can be acidic or neutral.
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About Marsh Lady's Tresses
This orchid is an herbaceous perennial plant. This means it has soft stems (not woody like a tree) and lives for more than two years. It can grow up to 50 cm (20 in) tall and wide.
What Does It Look Like?
The flowers of the marsh lady's tresses grow in tight rows on strong green spikes. These rows have a slightly twisted pattern. This is why the plant is called Spiranthes, which means "twisted flower." The twist happens because the plant cells grow unevenly.
The flowers are white and shaped like a hood. They appear in late summer and autumn. They also have a sweet smell! This is why the plant's scientific name includes odorata, which means "fragrant" or "smelly."
How Does It Get Pollinated?
This plant needs help to make seeds. It is pollinated by bumblebees. Some of the bumblebees that visit this orchid include Bombus pensylvanicus, Bombus fervidus, Bombus impatiens, and Bombus nevadensis. When these bees visit the flowers, they help move pollen from one flower to another.
Growing This Plant
In the United Kingdom, a special type of this plant called ‘Chadd’s Ford’ has won an important award. It received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. This means it's a great plant for gardens.
If you want to grow this plant, it needs soil that is rich in nutrients. It also prefers a spot with some shade. It can handle cold weather down to −10 °C (14 °F). However, in very cold places, it needs a dry layer of mulch over it during the winter. This helps protect its roots from frost.
