Spiranthes spiralis, commonly known as Autumn Lady's-tresses, is the latest-blooming native species of orchid, blooming in August and September. It is characterised by a spiral inflorescence produced after the leaves have died down. The inflorescence can be very small (as little as 50mm high) especially in short grazed grassland. It occurs most frequently in close cropped grassland overlying chalk or limestone.

Distribution

The area of distribution is from the Mediterranean zone of Northern Europe northwards and westwards to the Western Himalayas. In Great Britain and Ireland its northern-most occurrence is on the Isle of Man

Isle of Man

The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...

. It has never been found in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

.
In Ireland it has been recorded from County Sligo.

Among the synonyms are:

• Ophrys spiralis L. (basionym
  Basionym
  Basionym is a term used in botany, regulated by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature...
  
  )
• Epipactis spiralis (L.) Crantz
  Crantz
  Crantz is surname of:* Albert Krantz , German historian* Christl Cranz * Edvard Sylou-Creutz , a Norwegian classical pianist, composer and radio personality...
  
  
• Serapias spiralis (L.) Scop.
• Ophrys autumnalis Balb.
• Neottia spiralis (L.) Sw.
  Olof Swartz
  Olof Peter Swartz was a Swedish botanist and taxonomist. He is best known for his taxonomic work and studies into pteridophytes...
  
  
• Neottia autumnalis (Balb.) Pers.
• Ibidium spirale (L.) Salisb.
• Spiranthes autumnalis (Balb.) Rich.
• Neottia autumnalis (Balb.) Steud.
• Gyrostachys autumnalis (Balb.) Dumort.
• Spiranthes glauca Raf.
• Gyrostachys spiralis (L.) Kuntze