Spiral lady's-tresses

Family Orchidaceae. This Euro-Mediterranean species is found in Ukraine at the eastern border of its range (two localities are known in Lviv Oblast); in addition, it grows in the mountains of the Transcaucasus. It occurs in meadows, in open forests of the lower montane belt and foothills, on grassy mountain slopes, at forest edges and in glades. It grows on clayey or peaty soils, usually water-impermeable and poorly aerated.

A plant with a short rhizome and tubers. Stem 10–25 cm tall; basal leaves die back by the time of flowering, but at that time a rosette of ovate leaves of the next year's shoots is developed. Inflorescence rather dense, one-sided, spike-like, 5–10 cm long, with a glandular-pubescent axis twisted in a spiral. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, acute, slightly pubescent, equal to or slightly longer than the ovary. Flowers white, with a vanilla scent, greenish on the outside and slightly pubescent. Perianth segments arranged bell-shaped, the outer ones oblong, bluntish, with 3 veins, 3–5 mm long; the inner ones ligulate with one vein. Labellum without a spur, almost sessile, ovate, rounded at the tip, at the base with two blunt ears, grooved, with a slight constriction in the middle. Ovary sessile, with glandular pubescence, perianth turned toward it at a right angle. Reproduces by seeds. For the first 11 years it leads an underground existence. It flowers in the 13th–15th year of life. In January the plant has two mature tubers, and on the soil surface a rosette of 4–8 small leaves that remain green until mid-June. In September a new rosette forms and at the same time the plant flowers. It has no roots, but the tubers are covered with fungal mycelium that supplies the plant with water and nutrients. Thus, it is one of our orchids with winter-green leaves. The species is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.