Photographs: Co. Galway. © Sorcha Peirce

Irish Ladys-tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana Cúilín gaelach Family: Orchidaceae Flowering August-September. Perennial. Native. Short spikes of scented white flowers in three spiralling rows. It sets little seed and mainly reproduces vegetatively. The leaves are linear-lanceolate with some stem leaves present. Height to 30cm Wet, peaty soils by lakes and streams and in boggy ground. Widespread in N.America but in Europe only found in SW, W and NE Ireland and in NW Scotland. It is an Endangered species, classed as Near Threatened and protected by the 2015 Flora Protection Order. Similar: Autumn Ladys-tresses, S. spiralis. Flowers in single spiral

Irish Lady's-tresses, Spiranthes romanzoffiana, Cúilín gaelach