Spiranthes infernalis
| Ash Meadows ladies'-tresses | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Genus: | Spiranthes |
| Species: | S. infernalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Spiranthes infernalis Sheviak | |
Spiranthes infernalis, common name Ash Meadows lady's tresses, is a rare species of orchid known from only four locations in Nevada, all close to one another. Type locale is inside Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, in Nye County approximately 90 miles (140 km) WNW of Las Vegas. The site is a seasonally wet meadow.[1][2][3]
Spiranthes infernalis is a terrestrial herb up to 40 cm (16 inches) tall. It has tuberous roots. Leaves are lanceolate, up to 15 cm (6 inches) long. Flowers are yellowish-white with an orange lip, borne in a tightly spiralled spike.[1][4]
The epithet "infernalis" means "of the underworld" or "of the nether regions," in reference to the extremely hot climate of the region.[1]
Reference
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheviak, C. J. 1989. A new Spiranthes (Orchidaceae) from Ash Meadows, Nevada. Rhodora 91: 225–234.
- ↑ Flora of North America v 26 p 544.
- ↑ Siegel, Carol. Native Orchids of Nevada. Arboretum at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
- ↑ Calphotos, James Andre, University of California, Berkeley