View source for Biology:Spiranthes × kapnosperia

{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Smoky ladies' tresses
| image = Spiranthes_sheviakii_ss_closeup_(cropped).jpg
| image_caption = 
| genus = Spiranthes
| species = × kapnosperia
| authority = M.C. Pace
| range_map = 
| range_map_caption = 
}}

'''''Spiranthes''''' '''× ''kapnospria''''', the '''smoky ladies' tresses''', is a species of orchid growing in North America. In 2023 ''Spiranthes sheviakii'' was synonymized to this species.

== Description ==

''Spiranthes × kapnosperia'' reach a height of 50cm. They have 1–4 leaves that usually persist through flowering (but may then soon start to wilt). The leaf shape is [[Biology:Glossary of leaf morphology#Leaf and leaflet shapes|linear-lanceolate]] to oblanceolate, rarely obovate, 7–23 cm long and 1–2 cm wide. Flowers are arranged in a tight spiral around the stem and strongly nodding, with 3–4 flowers per cycle. Like all ''Spiranthes'' each flower head has 3 sepals (with the dorsal sepal at the top) and 3 petals (with the [[Biology:Labellum (botany)|labellum]] at the bottom). The sepals and petals are white to ivory with the labellum centrally yellowish. The tips of the lateral sepals are typically incurved over the top of the dorsal sepal and side petals.

They flower mid September to early October in the northern portion of their range and late September to late October in the southern portion. 

''Spiranthes × kapnosperia'' looks similar to several other spiranthes species, in particular ''[[Biology:Spiranthes cernua|S. cernua]]'' and ''[[Biology:Spiranthes ochroleuca|S. ochroleuca]]''. The flowers of ''S. kapnosperia'' appear more ivory than white compared to ''S. cernua'' though (hard to see in the field, but when compared side-by-side) and the labellum is more yellow. Compared to ''S. ochroleuca'' the lateral sepals look different – they are straight with inward curved tips in ''S. kapnosperia'' but falcate and not incurved in ''S. ochroleuca''.{{r|paenflowered}}{{r|thismia}}

== Distribution and habitat ==
''Spiranthes kapnosperia has'' been found in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, Michigan, North Carolina, Indiana and Illinois and likely also occur in Kentucky and Tennessee. {{r|thismia}}

They prefer acidic, dry to mesic successional habitats, seeps, open barrens and old fields. They are also found in thickets undergoing succession to oak-hickory or mixed hardwood-pine forests. {{r|thismia}}

== Taxonomy ==
''Spiranthes'' × ''kapnosperia'' was first described in 2017 as the name for hybrids of ''Spiranthes cernua'' and ''S. ochroleuca''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pace |first1=Matthew C. |last2=Cameron |first2=Kenneth M. |date=2017-12-18 |title=The Systematics of the Spiranthes cernua Species Complex (Orchidaceae): Untangling the Gordian Knot |url=https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2017/00000042/00000004/art00003;jsessionid=4on1bs839jf0.x-ic-live-01 |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=640–669 |doi=10.1600/036364417X696537|s2cid=90432295 }}</ref> Charles Sheviak and other researchers had long suggested these species hybridized, but no name was proposed. The name ''Spiranthes sheviakii''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hough |first=M |title=A systematic survey of the Spiranthes cernua species complex (Orchidaceae) in New York |journal=The Native Orchid Conference Journal |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=22–56}}</ref> was proposed in 2021 as an additional name for hybrids of ''S''. ''cernua'' and ''S''. ''ochroleuca'', however hybrid combinations may have only one name, per The Code. Thus, ''S''. ''sheviakii'' is a synonym of ''S''. × ''kapnosperia''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pace |first=Matthew C. |date=2023-05-19 |title=Independent origins of Spiranthes ×kapnosperia (Orchidaceae) and their nomenclatural implications |journal=PhytoKeys |issue=226 |pages=89–100 |doi=10.3897/phytokeys.226.100062 |doi-access=free |issn=1314-2003 |pmc=10220495 |pmid=37249925}}</ref> Based on molecular patterns, it is hypothesized that this hybrid formed at least twice, likely in different regions. 

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="thismia">{{cite web |title=Spiranthes sheviakii |url=http://www.thismia.com/S/Spiranthes_sheviakii.html |website=Plants of the Northeastern United States |publisher=Michael Hough |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="paenflowered">{{cite web |title=Spiranthes sheviakii |url=https://www.paenflowered.org/apgii/asparagales/orchidaceae/spiranthes/spiranthes-sheviakii |website=Flora of PA |publisher=PAEnflowered |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref>
<!-- UNUSED REFS
<ref name="sheviak">{{cite journal |last1=Sheviak |first1=C.J. |title=Biosystematic study of the Spiranthes cernua complex |journal=New York State Museum Bulletin |date=1982 |volume=448 }}</ref>

<ref name="hough">{{cite journal |last1=Hough |first1=M. |last2=Young |first2=M.A. |title=A systematic survey of the Spiranthes cernua species complex (Orchidaceae) in New York |journal=Native Orchid Conference Journal |date=2021 |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=22–56 |url=https://www.nativeorchidconference.org/_files/ugd/8170e0_a9c00f7ab12e428f92a8a4009192b7c7.pdf }}</ref> -->

}}


{{Taxonbar|from=Q116046575}}

[[Category:Spiranthes|×kapnosperia]]

{{Sourceattribution|Spiranthes × kapnosperia}}