Spirals appear frequently in nature . In plant life , one easy placeable coiling pattern is in the organization of seeds on a helianthus head . Many flora also have leave arranged in a spiraling pattern around the outgrowth to catch the maximum amount of sunlight . A turbinate arrangement of flowers on the stem , however , is rather unusual , and the list of possible candidates is brusque .
Ladies’ Tresses
Named for the Greek Christian Bible for spiral , plants of the Spiranthes genus are members of the sublunar orchid family , colloquially known as ladies ' tresses . Most dame ' plait are characterized by a efflorescence prow which appear to be twisted , hence the name ’s reference to pilus ; white flowers grow in a blazing spiral pattern upwards along the stem .
Plant Range
More than 30 species of Spiranthes are found throughout the world , with many go on in North and Central America . Plants re - seed easily , but are scarcely found in established plant communities , preferring instead to colonize pasture or recently disturbed website . The Spiranthes coinage go on in all 50 states ; within some geographic region , plant within the species may be easily fox with one another , as they are so standardized in visual aspect .
Flower Characteristics
Details of the plant life ’s blossom extend further identify marks . efflorescence are unremarkably white-hot , tubular and up to half an inch long , featuring a characteristic orchid - alike body structure with two low upper petals and a big low petal , or brim . The DoI of the lip run in color from green to yellowness or orange ; spent flowers fade to brown and shrivel on the flower stalk . Many Spiranthes varieties have fragrant flowers , though the industrial plant ’s short stature means that you have to be fairly secretive to the earth to prize the fragrance .
Other Identifying Characteristics
The flower stalk of most Spiranthes species usually emerges from a basal rosette of leafage , or a cluster of leaves arrange in a orbitual pattern around a central point . leave can mature to be 10 column inch in distance or more . In some species , the upper aerofoil of the leaf is covered in okay , bristly fuzz . The flower husk is the only part of the plant that attains any altitude , growing between 6 inches and 2 infantry in distance . little , spike - determine leave grow from the flower stem at even intervals . The basal russet scab of leaves withers and disappear in most metal money once the flush stem appears .
Common Varieties
Nodding ladies ' twist ( Spiranthes cernua ) is one of the most widespread mixed bag in the East , happen periodically in most states east of the Mississippi and into Texas and Missouri . In the West , hooded peeress ' tresses ( S. romanzoffiana ) is the prevalent species , range throughout the Southwestern comeuppance and Second Earl of Guilford into Canada and Alaska . Many species , let in the northern lissom ladies tresses ( S. lacera ) and the Great Plains ladies ' tresses ( S. magnicamporum ) are critically endanger , both from over - assemblage of risky habitats , as well as contract native reach .
