Spiranthes sinensis

Spiranthes sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese spiranthes, is a species of orchid occurring in eastern and southeastern Asia. Spiranthes sinensis was long thought to be a species complex, and more than 30 names have been synonymized under it; recent molecular and morphological data found that the complex was composed of six distinct species. 'True' S. sinensis sensu stricto is glabrous, blooms in the spring, and has pale blush-pink flowers. This species had formerly been thought to occur throughout Asia and Australia, it is actually restricted to southeast Asia, eastern East Asia, and southern Japan. The other species to be recognized out of this species complex are Spiranthes australis, Spiranthes flexuosa, Spiranthes maokensis, Spiranthes sunii, and Spiranthes suishanensis.

Description

An orchid. It is 50 cm high. The roots are 2-3 mm across. It has a few leaves in a ring at the base. The flower stalk has numerous flowers arranged in a spiral on the upper part of the stalk. Each flower is 6 mm long. Only one third of the flowers open at one time. The colour can be white or with purple.

Edible Uses

The fleshy root is traditionally cooked with chicken or pork. The tuber, roots, bulbs, flowers, and leaves are edible portions.

Traditional Uses

The fleshy root is cooked with chicken or pork.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The fleshy root is used in traditional preparation cooked with chicken or pork.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grassland and open forest. It can grow on the edge of swamps and become a lawn weed. It grows from sea level to moderate altitudes in temperate regions and higher in the tropics. It grows in wet grasslands between 300-3,400 m above sea level in China.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vietnam,

Cultivation

In Nepal this species is found in evergreen broadleaved forests, where the the rainfall is monsoonal, falling mainly from mid June to mid September. The climate of these forests ranges from sub-tropical to warm temperate at higher elevations, winters are warm to mild and frosts are generally few. Grows best in a sunny position.

Propagation

Seed - Division

Notes

There are 25 Spiranthes species. Spiranthes australis has now been separated off from Spiranthes sinensis.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Xiabaiji

References (15)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 944
• Caton, J.M. & Hardwick, R. J., 2016, Field Guide to Useful Native Plants from Temperate Australia. Harbour Publishing House. p 150 (As var. australis)
• Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 196
• Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 204
• Holliman, J., (Ed.), 2002, Orchids. Botanica's Pocket. Random House, Australia. p 543

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