Spiranthes australis

Common Name:

Austral Ladies' Tresses

Family:

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Wannon, Grampians, Midlands, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Snowfields, East Gippsland (CDEJNPRSTVWXZ) also SA, Qld, NSW, Tas
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Damp depressions, swamps or seasonally inundated streambanks ¹

Flower Description:

Deep to light pink with a white labellum ¹

Habit:

Terrestrial herb with elongated underground tubers and flower stems to 70 cm tall ¹

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

There are usually 3 linear leaves 3-18 cm long. The labellum is below the column in mature flowers, perianth segments are less than 5 mm long and flowers are pink or white ¹

Images:

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

NSW Flora VicFlora

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

¹ Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria