From the Greek speira, “spiral,” and anthos, “flower,” referring to the coiled or spiral character of the inflorescence, and hence the common name “ladies tresses”
I think of orchids as relatively large, outrageously colorful, tropical plants of limitless
variety. But these common, diminutive orchids (along with many others) prefer cooler climes. They are native to
the United States. Ladies’-tresses prefer moist, sandy soils.
Plants: Up to 1′ (40 cm) tall, though most of this
height is the flower stalk.
Leaves: A few long, narrow leaves occur, mostly at the base of the plant;
they are dull (not shiny) 4-8″ (10-20 cm) long and ⅛-¾″ (5-20 mm) wide.
Flowers: The raceme (flowerhead) is up to 4½″ (12 cm) high, roughly
cone-shaped, on a single stem well above the leaves. Tiny white flowers about ⅜″ (1 cm) long spiral around the spike. Flowers are tubular in shape, yellow in the center, with small sharp-tipped petals. Flowers appear between August and November.
Here are some similar species:
9/18/2017 · Purgatory Falls, Mont Vernon, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)
Up to 1′ (40 cm) tall, though most of this height is the flower stalk.
2½-16″ (7-40 cm) high.
Flowers
The raceme (flowerhead) is up to 4½″ (12 cm) high, roughly cone-shaped, on a single stem well above the leaves. Tiny white flowers about ⅜″ (1 cm) long spiral around the spike. Flowers are tubular in shape, yellow in the center, with small sharp-tipped petals. Flowers appear between August and November.
Up to 40 flowers are arranged spirally around a nearly hairless spike ¾-6″ (2-14 cm) high. Sepals and petals are fused together, and ¼-⅜″ (8-12 mm) long. They appear from May to September. Sepals are broad and white
Leaves
A few long, narrow leaves occur, mostly at the base of the plant; they are 4-8″ (10-20 cm) long and ⅛-¾″ (5-20 mm) wide.
2 to 3, rarely up to 5 Basal leaves are 2½-8″ (7-20 cm) × ⅛-⅜″ (6-12 mm). Leaves are linear or lanceolate.