Spiranthes casei — Case's ladies'-tresses
![Inflorescences: Spiranthes casei. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/spiranthes-casei-in-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Leaves: Spiranthes casei. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/spiranthes-casei-le-ahaines-c.jpg)
![Flowers: Spiranthes casei. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/spiranthes-casei-fl-ahaines-a.jpg)
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Facts
Case's ladies'-tresses is a relatively rare species distributed in a narrow band from Wisconsin to northern New England, where a few populations can be found in the northern parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Because it is found in open habitats with low vegetation, it is very susceptible to natural succession.
Habitat
Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields, ridges or ledges
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Leaf arrangement
-
- alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
- the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant (basal)
- Number of leaves on stem
- one
- Form of lower petal
- the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
- Lower petal outline
- the labellum is simple in form
- Main color of lower petal
-
- green to brown
- white
- yellow
- Nectar spur
- there are no nectar spurs on the flower
- Inflorescence type
- the inflorescence is a spike (a long unbranched stem with flowers along it that lack stalks)
- Lower petal characteristics
- the labellum is simple in form
- Lower petal length
- 4.1–8 mm
- Sepal length
- 5.2–8 mm
-
Flowers
- Flower petal color
-
- green
- white
- yellow
- Flower symmetry
- there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
- Flowering date
-
- August
- September
- Flowers per inflorescence
- 4–50
- Form of lower petal
- the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
- Hairs on flower stalk
- NA
- Hairs on inflorescence axis
- at least some of the hairs on the main stem of the inflorescence have glands
- Inflorescence length
- 20–160 mm
- Inflorescence type
- the inflorescence is a spike (a long unbranched stem with flowers along it that lack stalks)
- Labellum position
- the labellum is in the lower position on the flower
- Length of flower stalk
- 0 mm
- Length of narrowed base of lower petal
- 0 mm
- Lobes at base of lower petal
- 0 mm
- Lower petal characteristics
- the labellum is simple in form
- Lower petal length
- 4.1–8 mm
- Lower petal outline
- the labellum is simple in form
- Lower petal strongly red-veined
- no
- Main color of lower petal
-
- green to brown
- white
- yellow
- Nectar spur
- there are no nectar spurs on the flower
- Nectar spur length
- 0 mm
- Number of stamens
- 1
- Orientation of side petals
-
- the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards
- the lateral petals slant somewhat downward
- Self-pollinating flowers
- there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant
- Sepal length
- 5.2–8 mm
- Sepals fused only to sepals
- the sepals are separate from one another
- Shape of viscidium
-
- the viscidium is lance-shaped (wider near one end, pointed at the ends)
- the viscidium is long and narrow
- Spots on lower petal
- no
- Spur opening membrane
- NA
- Spur opening shape
- NA
-
Fruits or seeds
- Seed capsule orientation
- the capsule points upwards or is angled outwards
-
Growth form
- Plant green or not
- the plant is chlorophyllous (it has green parts)
- Roots
- the rhizomes do not resemble coral
- Underground organs
-
- the plant has one or more swollen storage organs underground, such as bulbs, tubers or corms
- there are only slender roots on the plant
-
Leaves
- Bract relative length
- the bract is shorter than the associated flower
- Features of leaves
- the leaf does not have any of the mentioned special features
- Leaf arrangement
-
- alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
- the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant (basal)
- Leaf blade edges
- the edges of the leaf blade have no teeth
- Leaf blade length
- Up to 200 mm
- Leaf blade shape
-
- the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
- the leaf blade is linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)
- the leaf blade is oblanceolate (lance-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
- the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)
- Leaf blade tip
- the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
- Leaf blade width
- Up to 20 mm
- Leaves during flowering
-
- there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering
- there are no leaves on the plant when it is flowering
- Number of leaves on stem
- one
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- man-made or disturbed habitats
- meadows or fields
- ridges or ledges
Wetland status
Not classified
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- absent
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- absent
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- New Hampshire
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
- Vermont
- rare (uncertain) (S-rank: S2?)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Spiranthes casei Catling & Cruise var. casei NC
Case’s ladies’-tresses. Spiranthes ×intermedia, auct. non Ames • ME, NH, VT; northern portion of states. Fields, low meadows, banks, disintegrating roadside ledges.
Native to North America?
Yes