"What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked." -Aldo Leopold
Spiranthes ovalis erostella. This variety of S. ovalis is primarily self-pollinated, hence the weak and withered flowers.
Pete and I had both seen Spiranthes ovalis erostella prior to this outing in late September in Pope County, IL, but we both agreed that this was the finest specimen we had seen of what is usually a small and insignificant plant with a puny inflorescence.
Spiranthes ovalis (lesser ladies’ tresses orchid) is typically found in open, woody habitat and particularly likes areas where disturbance has limited competition and opened access to light.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 