3. Spiranthes lucida (H.H. Eaton) Ames (shining ladies’ tresses, yellow‑lipped ladies’ tresses)

Pl. 118 c, d; Map 483

Flowering stems 10–38 cm long, glabrous or with very sparse glandular hairs in the inflorescence. Basal leaves 3–5, present at flowering time, 3–11 cm long, oblanceolate to lanceolate, glabrous. Flowers appearing as though in 2 or more ranks along the flowering stems. Sepals and lateral petals 4.0–5.5 mm long, white, the lateral sepals fused in the basal 0.5–1.0 mm, only slightly spreading, oriented parallel to the rest of the perianth. Lip 4–6 mm long, oblong, the margins somewhat irregular toward the tip, white with an orangish yellow to yellow area in the middle of the inner surface. Column 3 mm long, green. 2n=44. May–June.

Uncommon in the Ozark and Ozark Border Divisions (northeastern U.S. south to Arkansas and Tennessee). Restricted to fens and calcareous seeps along creeks.