Spiranthes spiralis (L.) F. Chev.

Spice Flower In the field 1 In the field 2

Family: ORCHIDACEAE

Genus: Spiranthes

Catalan common name: Orquídia de tardor.

Spanish common name: Trenzas de muchacha.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Stony and dry soils.

Characteristics: This is one of the few orchids that flower in autumn. Its inflorescence is very chararctersitic since the flowers, which are small and yellowish, form a spiral on the leaf-stalk.