Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

5. Spiranthes, L. C. Rich

5. Spiranthes, L. C. Rich.

Terrestrial herbs, with fibrous or tuberous roots. Stems leafy or sometimes leafless at the time of flowering. Flowers small, spirally arranged in a terminal spike. Sepals subequal; the dorsal one erect, more or less connivent with the petals into a hood; lateral free, erect or spreading. Lip sessile or clawed, concave, closely embracing the column at its broad base, often spreading and dilated at the tip; disc usually with tubercles or lamellæ near the base. Column short, terete. Anther erect, ovate or oblong, 2-celled; pollinia after dehiscence pendulous from the gland of the rostellum.

A genus of about 80 species, generally dispersed through most temperate or tropical regions.