Spiranthes sinensis var. amoena(Chinese spiranthes, "Nejibana")
Japanese name: ネジバナ（捩花） Scientific name:Spiranthes sinensis var. amoena
[Overview]
A perennial 10–40 cm tall, found in low, sunny, moist grassland such as lawns.
It has white, spindle-shaped roots.
The leaves are of two kinds: basal leaves and scale-like leaves on the stem; the basal leaves are broadly linear, 5–20 cm long and 0.3–1 cm wide, and 2–5 of them grow obliquely upward.
A flower stalk 10–40 cm tall bears a spike, with many flowers arranged in a spiral and facing sideways.
The flowers are pale pink and small, about 5 mm across; the dorsal sepal and the lateral petals form a hood, and the lip is white with fine teeth on the margin.
The fruit is a capsule.
[Uses]
The whole plant is used medicinally.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
Propagation from seed is also possible, but the seeds are as fine as powder and hard to collect.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil that retains water well.
Sphagnum moss alone can also be used, and soil for terrestrial orchids is also suitable.
Water once a day.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary, but if applied, give only a very small amount of slow-release fertilizer in spring.
Pests and diseases include virus diseases and slugs.
