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Mesadenus lucayanus (Britton) Schltr.
Florida Keys lady's-tresses

Family: Orchidaceae

Group: Monocot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Peninsular Florida, the West Indies (not Jamaica), Mexico and Central America.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

NatureServe Global Status: Apparently Secure

State of Florida Status: Endangered

Florida Natural Areas Inventory State Status: Critically Imperiled

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Presumed Extirpated or Extinct in the Wild

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Presumed Extirpated

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

South Florida History and Distribution: Ranked as presumed extirpated in Rare Plants of South Florida (Gann et al. 2002; pp 85-87) based on one collection in 1915 from Elliott Key in Miami-Dade County (Small and Mosier 5764 NY) and one collection in 1978 from Sewell's Point in Martin County (Tatje 10517 FAU). No new records are known.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Not Cultivated

Comments: For images, click on the Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants link below. See also Florida Natural Areas Inventory's Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Florida page (Chafin 2000).

Synonyms: Spiranthes lucayana, Spiranthes polyantha [misapplied].

Other data on Mesadenus lucayanus available from :

Mesadenus lucayanus has been found in the following 2 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Biscayne National Park Presumed Extirpated Presumed Extirpated
Everglades National Park Recorded as Present in Error

Mesadenus lucayanus has been found in the following 2 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Martin County Presumed Extirpated Presumed Extirpated
Miami-Dade County Presumed Extirpated Presumed Extirpated

Mesadenus lucayanus has been found in the following 2 habitats :
Maritime Hammock
Rockland Hammock