Spiranthes romanzoffiana

Spiranthes romanzoffiana, the Hooded Ladies'-tresses, is one of three Ladies'-tresses found in the state of Washington. The other two are very rare, but this species is quite common. We photographed it at about 5000 feet of elevation along the North Cascades Highway in an open field where it grows by the thousands. It prefers a wet environment but we have found it growing in drier areas as well.