Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Ute ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis)

Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Orchidales
Family: Orchidaceae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Ute-ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) is a perennial, terrestrial orchid with 7 to 32-inch stems arising from tuberously thickened roots. The flowering stalk consists of few to many small white or ivory flowers clustered into a spiraling spike arrangement at the top of the stem. The species is characterized by whitish, stout flowers. It blooms, generally, from late July through August. The orchid occurs along riparian edges, gravel bars, old oxbows, high flow channels, and moist to wet meadows along perennial streams. It typically occurs in stable wetland and seepy areas associated with old landscape features within historical floodplains of major rivers, as well as in wetlands and seeps near freshwater lakes or springs. Ute ladies'-tresses ranges in elevation from 720 to 1,830 ft in Washington to 7,000 ft in northern Utah. Nearly all occupied sites have a high water table (usually within 5 to 18 inches) of the surface augmented by seasonal flooding, snowmelt, runoff and irrigation. States in which Spiranthes diluvialis is known to occur: Currently known from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Countries in which Spiranthes diluvialis is known to occur: United States.

Lead Region:  Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6)
Date Listed: Jan 17, 1992

  • States/US Territories in which the Ute ladies'-tresses is known to occur:  Colorado , Idaho , Montana , Nebraska , Utah , Washington , Wyoming

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title
10/12/2004 69 FR 60605 60607 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Delist the Ute Ladies'-Tresses Orchid and Initiation of a 5-Year Review
01/17/1992 57 FR 2048 205 ETWP; Final Rule to List the Plant Spiranthes diluvialis, Ute Ladies'- Tresses, as a Threatened Species
11/13/1990 55 FR 47347 47350 ETWP; Proposal to List the Plant Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute ladies'- tresses) as a Threatened Species; 55 FR 47347 47350

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/21/1995 Ute Ladies'-Tresses Draft Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Draft
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
10/12/2004 69 FR 60605 60607 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Delist the Ute Ladies'-Tresses Orchid and Initiation of a 5-Year Review
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Ute ladies'-tresses.

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Ute ladies'-tresses

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    10/12/2004 69 FR 60605 60607 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Delist the Ute Ladies'-Tresses Orchid and Initiation of a 5-Year Review
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009