Genus Spiranthes
Spiranthes L. C. Rich., Orchid. Eur. Annot. (1817) 28
Synonyms:
- Genus Aristotelea Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 2 (1790) 522
- Genus Gyrostachys Pers. ex Blume, Coll. Orchid. (1858) 127
- Genus Ibidium Salisb. ex Small, Trans. Hort. Soc. 1 (1812) 291
- Genus Monustes Raf., Fl. Tellur. 2 (1836) 87
- Genus Orchiastrum Ség., Man. Bot. San Franc. Bay (1894) 305
- Genus Triorchis Agosti, Tract. (1770) 234
- Genus Triorchis Millan, Jac. Pet. Op. (1765) t. 68
Sympodial terrestrial plants. Stem arising from a cluster of very fleshy roots. Leaves few, in a basal rosette, sheathing at the base, glabrous, persistent, convolute, herbaceous. Inflorescence terminal, a many-flowered raceme. Flowers small, arranged in a dense spiral, resupinate, white or pink. Sepals free. Petals free, narrower than the sepals. Lip without spur, not mobile, at the base with two warts. Column-foot absent. Pollinia 2, mealy, caudicles present, stipe absent, viscidium present.
North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands, east to Samoa. About 30 species; one widespread species [Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames] in New Guinea.
Terrestrial in montane grassland.
- Pridgeon, A. M., P.J. Cribb, M.W. Chase & F.N. Rasmussen (Eds.). 2003. Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 3: Orchidoideae (Part 2), Vanilloideae. Pp. 258-266. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Subfamily Orchidoideae
- Tribe Cranichideae
- Subtribe Spiranthinae
- Genus Spiranthes
The small flowers arranged in a dense spiral clearly characterise Spiranthes. Occasionally seen in cultivation, sometimes even as a weed in pots with other orchids.
Genus Spiranthes in New Guinea is present with 1 species:
Spiranthes sinensis
Sponsored Ads
Genus Spiranthes
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, flowers, various views, photo Jan Meijvogel, Leiden cult. s.n., from West Russia
Genus Spiranthes
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, rhachis, photo Jan Meijvogel, Leiden cult. s.n., from West Russia
Genus Spiranthes
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, flower, front view, photo Jan Meijvogel, Leiden cult. s.n., from West Russia
Genus Spiranthes
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, flower, lateral view, photo Jan Meijvogel, Leiden cult. s.n., from West Russia
Genus Spiranthes
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, inflorescence, photo E.F. de Vogel, from Papua New Guinea, East New Britain Prov.
Genus Spiranthes
Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, , as Spiranthes papuana Schltr., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Gibbs 5673