Spiranthes vernalis (Spring Ladies'-tresses Orchid)

The second day of my weekend trip to the Atlantic Coastal Plain... These shots represent native orchids found in the Francis Marion National Forest, near Charleston, SC. Some are repeat species that I photographed in the Green Swamp near Wilmington, NC on the previous day. The only differences being the white orchids toward the end of today's post.

I am including a number of these to show the different forms that the clusters of flowers present to the viewer. Notice that some of them seem to march straight up the stem while others "spiral" around the stem -- some tightly and some loosely...

I apologize for the bad lighting on these. They were growing in the median of a busy, 4-lane highway, in the harsh mid-day sun. In addition, the wind was blowing like crazy. Needless to say, I got some strange looks from passing motorists. But I'm used to that...