Seasonal Wild Flowers

Autumn Lady's-tresses

Spiranthes spiralis

Orchidaceae

August to September

It is found mainly in southern regions. It is more thinly

scattered in the Midlands and the North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Autumn Lady's-tresses

It grows on unimproved, grazed grassland on dry

calcareous soils and on cliffs and sand dunes.

It is sometimes found on lawns, often in large numbers,

when cutting or grazing stops.

The number of flowers is also dependent on the type

of summer.

Autumn Lady's-tresses is a native, relatively

inconspicuous, pale-green, rhizomatous herb,

growing up to 15cm.

Those shown from Dawlish warren were about 8cm.

Flowers are small, just 4 to 5mm, and spirally arranged

on the flower spike.

They are white with a green centre, a fringed lower

lip and no spur.

There are concave, hooded bracts.

The leaves form a basal rosette, which usually wither

before the flowers appear.

The stem is glandular and hairy, with appressed scales.

Autumn Lady's-tresses, Dawlish Warren,

Devon

Close-up of flowers and bracts

Side view of flowers, - hairy stem

Stem scales