Species, Natural Hybrid Orchid, Leafless Beaked Ladie's Tresses, Sacoila

I received this plant three years ago as a seedling in a half gallon pot. I repotted it into a two gallon pot after it lost its last leaf...Read More October 06.I used store bought Miracle - Gro Potting Mix, and added about 2 oz, of Dynamite slow release 13-13-13. I planted it to where the crown was just below the surface. Only watered it when it was near hard dry untill growth was evident in early March. 04/20/2007 It is now 18 inches high.I have been watering it twice a week,and using water soluble fertilizer I live in east central Pinellas county near the intersection of U.S.19 and 62nd Ave.N

Herbaceous, perennial with large lanceolate or elliptical leaves forming a basal rosette. No leaves are present during flowering. The lea...Read Moreves can be 8 inches long and up to 2 inches wide. It blooms finely pubescent brick red flowers on an upright, fleshy spike 12 to 14 inches tall from April through July.

Its natural habitat is open meadows, pastures and roadsides of peninsular Florida southward trough the West Indies and tropical South America and Mexico

Due to collection and habitat destruction this plant is on the Florida Endangered

This orchid occurs as far north as central to northern Florida, where it can be found in pine savannas on white sand, as well as old fiel...Read Moreds, clearings, and roadsides on the same soils. I mostly see it flowering in April in Florida. Sometimes it is listed under the genera Spiranthes or Sacoila.

This is a ground orchid found in brazilian savannas, where it´s quite common. It´s also found on white sand on the mountains tops of ce...Read Morentral Brazil. It definetly catches your attention with pink flowers in the middle of the grasslands.

This is an almost stemless orchid, with a short underground stem, from where long leaves are shout in spring. Those leaves fade in early winter, and then comes the reddish pink inflorescence. The flowers aren´t as showy as other orchids, but the whole is very beautiful. They have reddish pink sepals and light pink petals/labellum. The whole inflorescence/flowers combo is covered with tiny hairs, that gives it an interesting texture.

It lives on a mixture of white sand and red clay soil. The thick roots might isolate is from others plants, I mean, others plants will find it difficult to root around it. It´s better to plant it on the gorund instead of pots or containers, because of the roots. Also, plant it under full sun, with regular watering, slowly stopping it during the winter, starting again in spring. It likes moderately cold temperatures, and might tolerate some frost, but not for long periods.