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Spiranthes torta (Thunb.) Garay & H.R. Sweet
Southern lady’s-tresses

Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley

Family: Orchidaceae

Group: Monocot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Bermuda, South Florida, the West Indies and Central America.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

NatureServe Global Status: Secure

State of Florida Status: Endangered

Florida Natural Areas Inventory State Status: Critically Imperiled

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Critically Imperiled

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

South Florida History and Distribution: Ranked as critically imperiled in Rare Plants of South Florida (Gann et al. 2002; pp 508-510) based on four occurrences in three protected areas (Big Cypress National Preserve; Everglades National Park; National Key Deer Refuge) and one non-protected area (Luis Martinez Army Reserve Center). Spiranthes amesiana, which was ranked as presumed extirpated in Rare Plants of South Florida (Gann et al. 2002; pp 102-103), has been placed into synonymy here. It was recently discovered in Palm Beach County.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: See also, IRC’s report Vascular plant species of management concern in Everglades National Park (Gann 2015), page 99 and Florida Natural Areas Inventory's Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Florida page (Chafin 2000).

Synonyms: Spiranthes amesiana.

Other data on Spiranthes torta available from :

Spiranthes torta has been found in the following 8 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Big Cypress National Preserve Present Native
Camp Owaissa Bauer Presumed Extirpated Presumed Extirpated
Dupuis Reserve Reported
Everglades National Park Present Native
J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area Present Native
Larry and Penny Thompson Park Possibly Extirpated Possibly Extirpated
Luis Martinez United States Army Reserve Station, Richmond Pine Rocklands Present Native
National Key Deer Refuge Present Native

Spiranthes torta has been found in the following 7 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Broward County Presumed Extirpated Presumed Extirpated
Charlotte County Presumed Extirpated Presumed Extirpated
Collier County Native
Miami-Dade County Native
Monroe County (Keys) Native
Monroe County (Mainland) Native
Palm Beach County Native

Spiranthes torta has been found in the following 3 habitats :
Basin Marsh
Marl Prairie
Pine Rockland

All Images:

Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Chris Evans, 2018
Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Chris Evans, 2018
Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Roger L. Hammer
Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Chris Evans, 2018
Spiranthes torta
Copyright by: Chris Evans, 2018