Spiranthes australis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gyrostachys australis
• Gyrostachys congesta
• Monustes australis
• Spiranthes sinensis var. amoena
• Gyrostachys australis var. amoena
• Spiranthes sinensis subsp. australis
• Calanthe australis
• Spiranthes viridiflora
• Ibidium viridiflorum
• Spiranthes angustilabris
• Spiranthes congesta
• Spiranthes longispicata
• Spiranthes stylites
• Neottia amoena
• Neottia crispata
• Spiranthes elytra
• Spiranthes amoena
• Gyrostachys novifuburgensis
• Spiranthes australis var. viridiflora
• Gyrostachys stylites
• Spiranthes crispata
• Spiranthes australis var. tasmaniensis
• Spiranthes sinensis var. australis
• Spiranthes novae-zelandiae
• Spiranthes alticola

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Orchidaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Spiranthes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution primarily concentrated within the eastern regions of the continent. In Eastern Europe, its presence is documented across East European Russia. The species also extends significantly into the vast territory of Siberia. Within Siberia, it can be found in several distinct locations including Altay, Buryatiya, and Chita. Additionally, its range encompasses the Irkutsk region, marking its widespread occurrence in these northern landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spiranthes australis is intrinsically linked to hydric environments, as the species thrives specifically within meadows that are characterized by consistently wet conditions or within swamp ecosystems. These habitats provide the high moisture levels and saturated substrates necessary for its survival and reproductive success. By occupying these niche wetland zones, the plant plays a role in the complex biological interactions of marshy landscapes, where its presence is dictated by the availability of standing water and the specific soil compositions found in such damp, low-lying terrains.

Habitat :

meadows: wet, swamps

Life history

The life history of Spiranthes australis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a species that relies on specialized survival strategies, it functions as a geophyte, maintaining its vital organs underground to endure unfavorable environmental conditions. Furthermore, its biological classification identifies it as a cryptophyte, a trait that underscores its ability to protect its meristematic tissues beneath the soil surface during periods of dormancy.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spiranthes australis is characterized by its growth as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a self-supporting structure without any climbing or epiphytic tendencies. This plant functions as an independent organism, lacking parasitic behavior, and is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, though it can exist in semiaquatic or aquatic environments. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small species, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Spiranthes australis is characterized by a specialized vegetative structure designed for efficient resource acquisition and environmental adaptation. A key component of its morphological physiology is the development of its foliage, which serves as the primary site for photosynthesis and transpiration. The leaf dimensions within this species exhibit significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. This range in leaf length allows the plant to optimize its surface area for light interception and gas exchange depending on its immediate microhabitat and available metabolic resources. Through the regulation of these leaf structures, the plant manages its photosynthetic capacity and maintains hydraulic balance, supporting its overall growth and reproductive cycles.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spiranthes australis is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle that dictates its reproductive availability. The flowering period for this species is highly variable, typically beginning in November and concluding in March. This window allows for the development and dispersal of reproductive structures within a specific seasonal timeframe, though the exact timing of these events can fluctuate depending on environmental conditions.

Flowering time :

Nov

Flowering time :

Mar

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Spiranthes australis has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.

Anticancer

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Spiranthes australis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Natural product research