Ontario Wildflowers website

Nodding Ladies' Tresses
Spiranthes cernua

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua) Other common names: Drooping Ladies' Tresses

Other scientific names: Gyrostachys cernua, Ibidium cernuum, Ophrys cernua

French names: Spiranthe penchée

Family: Orchid Family (Orchidaceae)

Group: Orchids, Ladies' Tresses

Similar species:
  •   Ladies' Tresses - Ladies' Tresses are notoriously difficult to tell apart.


Flowers: Summer, Autumn;  White;  Irregular flowers;  First two weeks of September.

Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Entire

Habitat: Wet Areas

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 26    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 18    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 101   

Native/Non-native: Native

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: cernua: nodding


Photographs: 446 photographs available, of which 6 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

Closeup view of flowwer, with thumb for scale.

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

Like most Ladies' Tresses, Nodding Ladies' Tresses are small plants.

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

A view looking straight down on a nice raceme of Nodding Ladies' Tresses flowers. Note how they are more or less arranged in ranks of three.

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

An unopened flower spike in late August.