My yard is covered in Lace-lip Ladies’ Tresses! I quit cutting grass until my “Susans” bloom and these little things popped up everywhere! How rare or endangered are they?
Hi Miriam,
lucky you! A nice display of this uncommon plant. Spiranthes laciniata is listed as threatened in Florida and Endangered in New Jersey, but it is widespread in the southeastern United States. It is not considered to be threatened or endangered in South Carolina but it is uncommon. The Spiranthes species are somewhat difficult to identify, and so it may be more common than some of the books say. I usually see Spiranthes cernua, but I am not an expert on these plants.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS