Spiranthes lacera (Raf.) Raf.
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Spiranthes
 
Species Synonyms: none
Common Names: slender ladiestresses
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: central Saskatchewan – Manitoba – Ontario – Quebec – New Brunswick – Nova Scotia
Saskatchewan: west-central Saskatchewan; Buffalo Narrows – Meadow Lake Provincial Park – Pasquia Hills
Ecoregion: Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland
 
HABITAT
 
 Saskatchewan: moist to dry, sandy or peaty sites
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Vulnerable
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 S2S3
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Slender ladiestresses is listed as vulnerable but is apparently secure in Saskatchewan. It is regionally restricted to one general region of the province and most local populations are small. No immediate threats are known but are possible in the future.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Height: 10 – 60 cm
Roots: few to several, in bundles, spreading to descending, slender to stout, fleshy
Stems: erect; stem bracts sheathing
Leaves: 3 – 5, basal, stalk short, spreading, 1.5 – 6 cm long, 1 – 2.5 cm wide, spoon-shaped to elliptic or oval
Inflorescence: spike one-sided to one-spiralled, up to 40-flowered; main axis hairless to hairy; floral bracts 5 – 10 mm long, 1 – 3 mm wide, oval
Flowers: sepals and petals 4.5 – 5 mm long, white; sepals spreading, distinct, lateral sepals white throughout; petals lance-shaped; lip 4 – 6 mm long, 2 – 2.5 mm wide, oval to oblong, tip expanded, hairy, white with green or yellowish in centre; ovary 3 mm long, stout
Fruits: capsule 3 – 8 mm long, 2 – 4 mm wide
 
SPIRANTHES KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Inflorescence with one spiral; lip ovate to oblong
S. lacera
1 Inflorescence with more than one spiral; lip fiddle-shaped
S. romanzoffiana