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Goodyera repens

Common name:	Creeping Lady's Tresses	Family:	Orchidaceae
Author:	(L.)R.Br.	Botanical references:	17
Synonyms:	Satyrium repens (L.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Europe, including Britain, Scandanavia south and east to the Pyrenees, Siberia, Japan and Himalayas.
Habitat:	Locally in pine woods, rarely under birch or on moist fixed dunes in northern Britain[17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	G. ophioides[B,P] G. repens ssp. ophioides[B,P] G. repens var. ophioides[B,P] Peramium ophioides[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Creeping Lady's-tresses [L], Dwarf Rattlesnake-plantain [B], Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain [P], Northern Rattlesnake Plantain [FEIS],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	repens = creeping
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Orchidales. Orchid family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Us(Appalachia)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.25m. It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Humble bees. The plant not is self-fertile. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

A cold infusion of the leaves has been used to improve the appetite and also in the treatment of colds and kidney problems[257]. A poultice of the wilted leaves has been used to 'draw out burns'[257]. The infusion can be held in the mouth as a treatment for toothache[257].
The root and the leaves have been used in the treatment of bladder problems[257]. The roots and the leaves have been used in the treatment of stomach problems and female disorders[257].
A poultice of the chewed leaves, and the swallowed juice, has been used in the treatment of snake bites[257].
The plant ooze has been used as drops to treat sore eyes[257].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires a somewhat shady site and a well-drained compost of peat, leafmold and sand[1]. Does well in the woodland garden[42, 230].
Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[230].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[200]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[FEIS] Data (Uses, Ecology, Fire Effects) from the USDA Forestry Service Fire Effects Information System.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[42] Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938
Rather dated now, but an immense work on bulbs for temperate zones and how to grow them. Three large volumes.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[230] Cribb. P. & Bailes. C. Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse. Christopher Helm. London. 1989 ISBN 0 7470 0416 1
An excellent book looking at the orchids that can be grown outdoors in temperate climates and giving lots of information on how to grow them. Very lttle information on their uses.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Goodyera+repens
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