Creamy lady's tresses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creamy lady's tresses |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification |
Spiranthes porrifolia is a type of orchid also known as the creamy lady's tresses or western ladies' tresses. This plant grows naturally in the western United States. You can find it from Washington and Idaho all the way down to southern California.
It likes wet places, such as mountain meadows, swamps, and riverbanks. This orchid is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows from a special root system that looks like a tuber. The plant can reach a height of about 60 centimeters (about 2 feet).
Contents
About Creamy Lady's Tresses
The leaves of this plant grow mostly around the bottom of its straight stem. They can be long and thin, shaped like a spear, or sometimes almost oval. At the very top of the stem, you'll find the flowers. They grow in a tight spiral, forming a dense cluster.
What the Flowers Look Like
Each flower is somewhat tube-shaped. It has an upper part and a lower lip. The flowers are usually cream-colored or yellowish. They create a beautiful spiral pattern on the stem.
Where This Orchid Lives
The creamy lady's tresses orchid prefers moist areas. You can often spot it in damp mountain meadows. It also thrives near rivers and in wet, marshy lands called fens. These habitats provide the water it needs to grow.
The Meaning Behind the Name
The scientific name for this orchid is Spiranthes porrifolia. The second part of its name, porrifolia, comes from Latin. It means "leek-leaved." This name was chosen because the plant's leaves look a bit like those of a leek.
