WW Bilateral Orchid

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White Wildflower Gallery

Bilateral Symmetry - Orchid Family

Orchid plants have a single stem. The flowers can be singular or clustered in a raceme or spiral. Some orchids have many leaves, some have only a few leaves, some have none.

There is great variety in orchid flowers, but generally they have one lip, two petals, and three sepals.
1) The lip (labellum) is a modified petal, often quite obvious, and a different color than the other petals. It is located in the lower position because the pedicel (flower stem) is twisted 180°. It is the landing site for insects.
2) The two petals are above or to each side of the lip.
3) The three sepals often look like petals.

Little Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes tuberosa, Hill

Little Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes tuberosa, Hill (1)

Little Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes tuberosa, Hill (2)

Orchidaceae - Orchid family
Little Ladies'-tresses (Gray's Ladies'-tresses) Spiranthes tuberosa
Tiny flowers are less then 3/16" long (smallest of the genus). They grow in a single spiral up the delicate shiny stem. Leaves at base only, that wither before the plant blooms. One fleshy, tuberous root (sometimes two). Spiranthes means "coiled flower". Plant can grow to 24" tall. Grow in open, sandy pine-hardwood forests. Blooms from June-September.
Photos taken by Sonnia Hill in Van Zandt County, Texas, June 2002, June 2003
(Native of Texas)

Nodding Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes cernua, Hill

Nodding Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes cernua, open, Hill (1)

Nodding Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes cernua, open, Hill (2)

Nodding Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes cernua, Hill (1)

Orchidaceae - Orchid family
Nodding Ladies'-tresses (Common Ladies'-tresses) Spiranthes cernua
Flowers are about 1/2" long, appear inflated, white with yellow-green center, in a tight spiral. The spike is covered in capitate hairs ("pin-head" at end). Most flowers are pollinated by bumblebees, but in the Post Oak Savannah a peloric form of this plant (right photo) does not open their flowers and reproduces by apomixis. Plant's leaves are at the base only; they wither before the plant blooms. Spiranthes means "coiled flower". Plant grows to 24" tall in sandy soil. Blooms July-November, but not every year
Photos taken by Sonnia Hill in Van Zandt County, Texas, October 2002
(Native of Texas)

Spring Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes vernalis, Hill (2)

Spring Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes vernalis, Hill (5)

Spring Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes vernalis, Hill (3)

Spring Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes vernalis, Hill (4)

Spring Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes vernalis, Hill

Orchidaceae - Orchid family
Spring Ladies'-tresses (Twisted Ladies'-tresses, Upland Ladies'-tresses) Spiranthes vernalis
White flower is about 1/2" long with yellow center. It is covered with fine, pointed hairs. Flowers grow in a slow single spiral that can appear non-spiraling. Leaves are at base only. It has several elongated tuberous roots. Spiranthes means "coiled flower". Plant normally grows to about 35" tall but can be 46" tall. Grows in sandy soil but can tolerate many habitats. Blooms April-July.
Photos taken by Sonnia Hill in Van Zandt County, Texas, May 2003, May 2004
(Native of Texas)

Grass-leaf Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes praecox, Hill

Grass-leaf Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes praecox, Hill (1)

Orchidaceae - Orchid family
Grass-leaf Ladies'-tresses Spiranthes praecox
Flower is about 1/2" long, and wide lip is marked with green lines. They bloom in a tight spiral up the stem. Leaves are at base mostly. Spiranthes means "coiled flower". Plant grows to about 30" tall, with dozens of blooms, in wetland pine savannah. Blooms March-June.
Photos taken by Sonnia Hill in Van Zandt County, Texas, May 2005
(Native of Texas)

Water Spider Orchid, Habenaria repens, Hill

Water Spider Orchid, Habenaria repens, Hill (1)

Water Spider Orchid, Habenaria repens, Hill (2)

Orchidaceae - Orchid family
Water Spider Orchid (Creeping Orchid, Nuttall's Habenaria) Habenaria repens
Flower is about 1/2" wide and is divided into three lobes with lateral petals up-curved. Stem has many long slender leaves. Plant grows 1-3 feet tall. It is often found growing in standing water. Blooms May-first frost.
Photos taken by Sonnia Hill in Van Zandt County, Texas, September 2004
(Native of Texas)

Also see:
pink orchids yellow orchids

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