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What's blooming in Bath, Highland
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
 | | From mid-August through October various species of ladies' tresses orchids can be found in the Highlands. The small flowers wrap the stem in single or double spirals. The lip color varies from nearly transparent white on nodding ladies' tresses, to yellow on yellow ladies' tresses (pictured) to green on slender ladies' tresses. (Recorder photo by Charles Garratt) |
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WARM SPRINGS - In lawns and fields and pastures and roadsides, beautiful little orchids have been blooming for the past week or two. The small ladies' tresses orchids are often overlooked.
Most of the ladies' tresses species that bloom in the Highlands appear in the late summer and fall. Southern slender ladies' tresses, Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis, is the first to show. Plants begin to bloom about mid-August in and near Douthat State Park and pop up here and there around the Highlands until early September.
Slender ladies' tresses can survive and bloom in areas that receive occasional mowing and/or grazing. In some years there are dozens blooming along the road across from the restaurant at Douthat State Park. Many people probably mow the little flowers in August thinking they are a common plantain without taking a few minutes to make a close inspection.
Ladies' tresses have small flowers that spiral around the stem. Slender ladies' tresses flowers have a green lip that can be seen on close inspection. Like other ladies' tresses, the flowers may be in a single spiral making the stem look like a soft, white screw or more complex double spiral.
In wet areas, look for nodding ladies' tresses, Spiranthes cernua, which have solid white lips that can be almost transparent. There is a rare variety of the nodding ladies' tresses that has a very strong, distinct and pleasant scent. Those with a good nose may detect a fragrance from other ladies' tresses varieties.
Yellow ladies' tresses, Spiranthes ochroleuca, has only recently been recorded in the Highlands but is found at a number of locations around Bath County. The Spiranthes species crossbred in the wild creating some confusing looking plants that can be difficult to identify. Yellow ladies' tresses can be distinguished from nodding ladies' tresses by habitat. Nodding ladies' tresses always grow in or near water, while yellow ladies tresses prefer drier soils.
A couple of other ladies' tresses species are found in the Highlands. Some, like yellow ladies' tresses begin to bloom in September and may be found through October. Use a hand lens and good field guide to identify the particular species. Even without identification, take a few moments to study the complex and beautiful flowers up close.
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