Spiranthes ochroleuca

(Rydb.) Rydb.

Yellow Nodding Ladies'-tresses

G5Secure Found in 16 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144572
Element CodePMORC2B0M0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusSpiranthes
Other Common Names
Spiranthe jaunâtre (FR) Yellow Ladies'-tresses (EN) yellow nodding ladies'-tresses (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-10-17
Change Date2024-10-17
Edition Date2024-10-17
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Spiranthes ochroleuca is a perennial orchid occurring in woodlands, thickets, meadows, old fields, barrens, outcrops, ledges, and roadsides of eastern North America from Ontario, Newbrunswick, and Nova Scotia, Canada south to South Carolina, west to Tennessee, and north to Michigan in the United States. It is threatened by rights-of-way construction and maintenance, logging, recreation, development, deer browse, succession, illegal dumping, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and over 700 occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Spiranthes ochroleuca occurs in eastern North America from Ontario, Newbrunswick, and Nova Scotia, Canada south to South Carolina, west to Tennessee, and north to Michigan in the United States (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated to be 1.6 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are more than 700 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Spiranthes ochroleuca is threatened by rights-of-way construction and maintenance, logging, recreation, development, deer browse, succession, illegal dumping, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand the scope and severity of threats for this taxon. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Spiranthes ochroleuca occurs in "dry to mesic open woodlands, thickets, meadows, barrens, ledges, outcrops, banks and roadsides, [and] old fields" (FNA 2002).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldBarrensCliff
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3
ProvinceRankNative
New BrunswickS1Yes
OntarioS1Yes
Prince Edward IslandS2Yes
Nova ScotiaS3Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New YorkS5Yes
GeorgiaS1Yes
ConnecticutSNRYes
New JerseyS3Yes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
South CarolinaS1Yes
OhioSNRYes
TennesseeS1Yes
KentuckyS2Yes
MaineSNRYes
VermontS3Yes
MichiganS3Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
North CarolinaS1Yes
VirginiaS3Yes
IndianaS2Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
MarylandS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownUnknown
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.3.5 - Motivation unknown/unrecordedUnknownUnknownUnknown
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownUnknown
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownUnknown
7 - Natural system modificationsUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensityUnknownUnknownUnknown
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.2.2 - Named speciesUnknownUnknownUnknown
9 - PollutionUnknownUnknownUnknown
9.4 - Garbage & solid wasteUnknownUnknownUnknown

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (16)
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
North Carolina (6)
AreaForestAcres
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Virginia (7)
AreaForestAcres
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Crawford MountainGeorge Washington National Forest9,892
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Cheat MountainMonongahela National Forest8,191
References (6)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).