| Author | (L.) Schlechter | |
| Distribution | Reported in iNaturalist from Guilford County (2013, Doug Goldman in Greensboro), and New Hanover County (two reports in 2021 and 2022 in and south of Wilmington). As photos are posted there, the records below are placed in the Photo -- Non-natural Occurrence category.
Native to much of Asia, including on many Pacific islands. The map in BONAP (online, 2024) shows it in FL, GA, AL, LA, and TX. However, it also known from a number of Coastal Plain counties in SC (Keith Bradley pres. comm. Feb 2024). | |
| Abundance | Apparently rare in NC, but probably expending its range here. | |
| Habitat | Lawns. Elsewhere, it inhabits cemeteries, vacant lots, roadsides, etc. | |
| Phenology | NC plants were flowering in January, February, and March. | |
| Identification | A short terrestrial orchid up to 10 inches tall, but often only half that height. The stem is purplish basally but covered with leaf sheaths upwards. Leaf blades are lanceolate, deep green, usually folded. The thick flower spike is terminal, with crowded flowers which are white with a yellow lip. Thus, it resembles some Ladies'-tresses orchids (Spiranthes), but has a prominent flower bract subtending each flower and which extends beyond each flower to a sharp acuminate tip. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None
| |
| Other Common Name(s) | Lawn Orchid, Striped Orchid | |
| State Rank | SE | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
