Spiranthes is a group of 25 orchid species, 20 occur in North America and 3 occur in Washington State. The name Spiranthes refers directly to the flowers that spiral on the stem. The scientific name is derived from the Greek language. The Greek word speira means "coil" and anthos means "flower".

Spiranthes diluvialis is also known as Ute ladies’-tresses and is a hybrid between S. romanzoffiana and S. magnicamporum. Areas with S. romanzoffiana may contain S. diluvialis. The 30 to 60 flowers are creamy white or ivory in color. The flowers are arranged in a dense spiral with 3 to 4 flowers per spiral. The lip often has a yellow central portion. The 3 to 6 basal leaves extend upward. The stem has many slender floral bracts. This orchid can be found growing in mesic or wet meadows, wetlands, near springs, seeps, stems or lakes. The distribution is Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming and Washington. In Washington State, there is 1 confimed location in Okanogan County. The identification was made by Paul Martin Brown, orchid expert and author of Wild Orchids of the Pacific Northwest and Canadian Rockies.

• The flowers are whitish, stout, ringent (gaping at the mouth).
• The flowers are more spreading.
• The lip petal being exposed in lateral view.
• The sepals being free or connate at the base for a short distance rather than fused to form a hood above the lip.

• The petals and sepals which usually curve in the shape of a hood on top.
• The lip peatl is more deeply constricted.
• The spikes are more densely congested and shorter.
• flowers that tend to ascend and be closely appressed to the stem.

• The flowers are cream colored.
• In Washington State is tends to occur at higher elevations.

The habitats that support Spiranthes diluvialis have been heavily impacted or destroyed by urban development, stream channelization and water diversions for agricultural uses. Spiranthes diluvialis is considered threaten by federal agencies and endangered by Washington State agencies.

If you see this orchid please get a GPS location and report the sighting to the Washington State Natural Heritage Program at 360-902-1710 or
www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp

• Height: 7 to 23 inches tall
• Flower size: 3/8 to ¾ inch wide
• Blooms: July to August

Spiranthes porrifolia or Western Ladies'-tresses or Leeked-leaved Ladies'-tresses is a terrestrial orchid and can be found along streams, seepage areas and in bogs. The 3 to 4 smooth leaves are elliptic-lanceolate in shape and on the lower portion of the stem. The leaves are up to 10” in length and can be absent at the time of flowering. The 30 to 100 creamy yellow flowers spiral loosely in 2 or more rows around the upper part of the stem. The Spiranthes porrifolia can be confused with Spiranthes romanzoffiana: S. porrifolia is more cream colored or yellowish than S. romanzoffiana which is white. The petals and sepals of S. romanzoffiana are united to form a hood and the lip is violin-shaped. The petals and sepals of S. porrifolia do not form a hood. S. porrifolia flowers several months earlier (May-August) than S. romanzoffiana (June-Oct). The distribution is Washington thru California east to Nevada. In Washington State it can be found in the Columbia Basin, the Eastern and Western Cascades, Chelan, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, and Skamania counties.

This orchid is considered Washington State sensitive. Trampling, both human and animal, grazing, mowing, and road maintenance are all potential threats to the species. Other threats include rural and agricultural development, quarrying, and herbicide drift.

If you see this orchid please get a GPS location and report the sighting to the Washington State Natural Heritage Program at 360-902-1710 or
www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp

• Height: 8 to 30 inches
• Flower 10 to 20 mm
• Blooms: May to August

Spiranthes romanzoffiana or Hooded Ladies'-tresses is a terrestrial orchid that can be found in various habitats such as bogs, coastal grasslands, wet to dry meadows, marshes and along streams. They also appear in disturbed ground like along roadsides in ditches, worked meadows and gravel pits. This orchid was named after Nicholas Romanzoff, a Russian minister of the state who sent expeditions to Alaska. The 60 small pure white to creamy flowers are spiraled tightly around the upper stem in three rows. The S. rommanzoffiana can be distinguished by its reflexed lip which resembles a receding chin and the prominent hood. The flowers have a sweet vanilla-like scent. The 3 to 6 leaves are smooth below and downy on the top surface. The leaves can be absent during flowering. The distribution is from Alaska across Canada and northern United States to the east coast and from Washington down to California and inland to Arizona and New Mexico. It also has a distribution in Ireland.

• Height: 5 to 20 inches
• Flower size: 10 to 14 mm
• Blooms: June to October