Day 308 (Part Two): An exquisitely beautiful and somewhat rare plant, this specimen of Hooded Ladies' Tresses was growing in a revegetated area at the Stevens Canyon entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. I had a few minutes to spare before my duty started this morning, so I took a short walk and was surprised to find it and several others blooming merrily in the middle of the traffic island! I brushed aside a few grass seedheads to get a clear shot.
The name Spiranthes refers to the spiralling nature of the flower head which appears to twist as it rises. The Spiranthes, of which there are several varieties, are members of the Orchid family. Ordinarily, this botanical jewel prefers wet or even boggy areas. Of course, you could say that most of western Washington qualifies as a "wet area" in most months of the year, so perhaps that accounts for why these lovely plants are doing so well.
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