Alternate name: White Nodding Ladies'-tresses
Family: Orchidaceae, Orchid view all from this family
Description Small, cream-white, fragrant, nodding flowers are arranged on a floral spike in 3-4 spiral-like rows.
Flowers: 1/2" (1.3 cm) long; side petals and upper sepal unite to form a hood over the wavy-edged lower lip petal.
Leaves: basal ones to 10" (25 cm) long, lanceolate; upper stem leaves reduced to scales.
Height: 6-24" (15-60 cm).
Flower August (north)-November (south).
Habitat Fields, damp meadows, moist thickets, and grassy swamps.
Range Ontario to Nova Scotia and northern New England; south to Florida; west to Texas; north to South Dakota.
Discussion A dozen or more species of Ladies'-tresses are known in the eastern United States. Among those with pronounced spirals are Slender Ladies'-tresses (S. lacera), with ovate leaves and a green spot on the lip; Short-lipped Ladies'-tresses (S. brevilabris), with a downy floral spike; and Little Ladies'-tresses (S. grayi), with tiny flowers. In southern marshes and swamps Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (S. odorata), grows to 2-3' (60-90 cm) and has spirally arranged clusters of fragrant flowers.
