This is a Spiranthes cernua, also known
as Nodding Ladies' Tresses. We found it at Weiler-Leopold Nature
Reserve, in the oak savanna area to the south of the prairie area.
This is the first time I'd noticed this orchid at Weiler-Leopold. The photo was taken Oct. 4, 2014. A few years ago I observed Spiranthes
cernua in the woods at Celery Bog Park. There is a photo of this
orchid on display in the nature center there. I went back to Celery
Bog Park on Oct. 7, thinking I could find Spiranthes cernua again,
but failed to find it there.
The presence of orchids is also a
display of fungus that we don't necessarily see. Orchids require
fungus to reproduce. The seed of the orchid does not contain a food
source for the new sprout, it gets its nutrition from a fungus in the
soil that surrounds the new plant. Orchid seeds are tiny, like dust,
because of this.
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