Ladies’ tresses
Spiranthes sinensis

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid. It is 50 cm high. The roots are 2-3 mm across. It has a few leaves in a ring at the base. The flower stalk has numerous flowers arranged in a spiral on the upper part of the stalk. Each flower is 6 mm long. Only one third of the flowers open at one time. The colour can be white or with purple.

There are 25 Spiranthes species. Spiranthes australis has now been separated off from Spiranthes sinensis.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grassland and open forest. It can grow on the edge of swamps and become a lawn weed. It grows from sea level to moderate altitudes in temperate regions and higher in the tropics. It grows in wet grasslands between 300-3,400 m above sea level in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fleshy root is cooked with chicken or pork.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, bulb, flowers, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Xiabaiji

Synonyms

Neottia sinensis Pers.; Spiranthes australis (R.Br.) Lindl; Spiranthes lancea (Thunb.) Baker; Spiranthes pucida Lindl.;