Sphinx ladies' tresses
Spiranthes incurva (Jenn.) M.C.Pace
Spiranthes incurva, known as Sphinx ladies' tresses, is a species in the Orchidaceae family. Native to the upper Midwest and Great Lakes Basin of North America, it was first described as Ibidium incurvum Jenn. in 1906. Initially grouped with Spiranthes cernua, it was reclassified as a distinct species in 2017. It is a natural hybrid of S. cernua and S. magnicamporum.
Description
Spiranthes incurva is found in New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and various U.S. states including Vermont, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The species was long considered part of a broader S. cernua complex before being reestablished as a separate entity in 2017 following taxonomic revision. This orchid is a stable hybrid between S. cernua and S. magnicamporum, representing an ancient lineage within the genus Spiranthes.
Other common names
Sphinx Ladies'-TressesSphinx Ladies’ TressesSphinx ladies' tresses
Distribution
New Brunswick · Ontario · Quebec · Vermont-US · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nebraska · New Hampshire · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Québec · South Dakota · Vermont · Wisconsin
Synonyms
Ibidium incurvum
