Day 301: In the opinion of this observer, the spire-like inflorescence of Hooded Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) is one of the most esthetically pleasing among the Orchidaceae. The common name derives from the braided appearance created by flowers ranked by threes in a twist along the stem, each bloom facing at an angle and all pointing in the same direction. This gives rise to a question: does the spiral always go the same way on every plant in the species? The answer is no, but what influences one to turn clockwise and another to turn counter-clockwise is unknown (at least to your narrator). What we do know is that the spiral arrangement creates a "stepladder" for pollinators which helps to ensure that each single, sweetly scented flower is visited in turn as bees and other insects ascend the spiral staircase.
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