Spiranthes romanzoffiana was named after Nikolay Rumyantsev who financed as one of the first Russian expeditions to circumnavigate the globe. This plant, which is found in North America too, was collected on the expedition and named after him.

In the British Isles it is a late flowering member of the orchid family and is found in parts of Scotland, a few places in England but most frequently around Loughs in Ireland. It doesn't have the clear spirals of flowers like Spiranthes spiralis (Autumn Lady's-tresses) and in Ireland is the only one of this genus still found. The shape of the flowers leads to its other common name Hooded Lady's-tresses. It flowers at the end of July and beginning of August in Ireland so there were only a few left in flower by mid August.

Marshland near Lough Beg, County Derry, Northern Ireland August 18th 2006

Added on 25th August 2006, updated 11th February 2012