About Spiranthes bightensis M.C.Pace
Plants of Spiranthes bightensis M.C.Pace resemble Spiranthes cernua and Spiranthes odorata. They are tall, growing up to 100 cm, and have 1 to 5 basal leaves that are present when the plant flowers; these leaves are wider than the leaves of Spiranthes cernua. Their white flowers are arranged in a spiral pattern along the stem. The flowers of Spiranthes bightensis are usually fragrant, while the flowers of Spiranthes cernua are not. Spiranthes bightensis is endemic to the eastern US Mid-Atlantic shoreline and the New York Bight, and its specific epithet bightensis comes from this New York Bight location. It is found in the US states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. It grows in wet to moist meadows, coastal dune swales, and sphagnum areas along water edges. The southernmost edge of Spiranthes bightensis's range lies north of the range of Spiranthes odorata, and the two species' ranges do not overlap. While its range does overlap with that of Spiranthes cernua, the two species do not normally grow together at the same locations. A small population of Spiranthes bightensis has been recorded in Belgium, and these plants are presumed to have escaped from cultivation. The popular Chadds Ford spiranthes cultivar is often sold under the names "Spiranthes cernua 'Chadds Ford'" or "Spiranthes cernua var. odorata 'Chadds Ford'", and was long classified as a member of either Spiranthes cernua or Spiranthes odorata. This cultivar is actually neither of those species, and is instead a cultivated form of Spiranthes bightensis.
