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Waterspider Orchid

Habenaria repens

Waterspider Orchid Locations in North America
Waterspider Orchid Locations in Southeast US
waterspider orchid flower

waterspider orchid side view

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

What is Waterspider Orchid?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Thick
  • Tender
  • 2-9 inches long
  • Up to 1 inch wide
  • Sword-shaped

Flowers:

  • Small flowers
  • Pale green in color
  • Up to 3/4 inches in diameter
  • Thin petals
  • Resemble small, green flowers

Stem:

  • 1-2 feet tall

Where Does it Grow?

Waterspider orchid can be found in marshes or in floating mats in ponds or lakes.

Pros and Cons of Waterspider Orchid

Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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