Spiranthes spiralis - Autumn Lady's Tresses

Family:	Orchidaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.2
Width:	0.1
Synonyms:	S. autumnalis. Rich. Ophrys spiralis. L.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, south and east from Denmark to N. Africa and W. Asia.

Spiranthes spiralis (Autumn Lady's Tresses) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.2m and a width of 0.1m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
Autumn Lady's Tresses will flower in February to March. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees

Soil Information

Autumn Lady's Tresses will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Autumn Lady's Tresses prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Autumn Lady's Tresses can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Hilly pastures, downs, moist meadows and grassy coastal dunes, usually on a calcareous substratum[17]. Dry hilly fields[4].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

See the plants native habitat for ideas on its cultivation needs[K]. Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[230]. This species is one of the commonest orchids in Britain, though it is often overlooked because it flowers so late. It sometimes naturalizes in lawns, especially where these overly a chalk substrate or a turf from chalky land has been used to make the lawn[230]. In the evening the flowers diffuse a penetrating almond-like perfume like heliotrope[245].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The tuberous root has been used as an aphrodisiac[4]. A tincture of the root is used as a homeopathic remedy[4]. It is used in the treatment of skin affections, painful breasts, pain in the kidneys and eye complaints[4].

• Aphrodisiac - Increases the sexual appetite.
• Homeopathy - A plant used in homeopathic treatments.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[200]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move. Division in autumn. Make sure that you keep plenty of soil with each plant. It is also said to be possible to transplant orchids after they have flowered but whilst they are still in leaf.

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Fresh

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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