Written/Compiled and Reported by MOOK Travel & Living Net’s Chen Guanxin
As spring arrives and flowers bloom across the land, the “Spiranthes” orchids at Guandu Nature Park are also in full bloom. Named for their flower spikes that resemble silk ribbons, these blossoms are also called “Qingming Grass” due to their timing around the Qingming Festival. As members of the Orchidaceae family, their flower spikes twist around the stem like red or blue dragons, and their fleshy roots resemble ginseng—hence they are also commonly known as “Dragon’s Root.”
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The flowers of the Spiranthes exhibit the characteristic large lip typical of the Orchidaceae family. (Photo provided by Taipei City Animal Protection Office, photographer: Lai Jizhi)
The main facility area of Guandu Nature Park is divided into sections along the path from the entrance, including coastal forest, streams, sparse woodland, grassland, and low-elevation broadleaf forest typical of northern Taiwan—much like the plant ecosystems one would encounter while landing along the northern coast of Taiwan. The Spiranthes mainly appear in the “grassland environment.”
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The Spiranthes flowers bloom from bottom to top, twisting like dragons around the stem. (Photo provided by Taipei City Animal Protection Office, photographer: Weng Yiling)
When not in bloom, Spiranthes blends in with the other grasses on the meadow and can be hard to spot. Every year from April to early May, many tiny dragon-like columns sprout on the grasslands of Guandu Nature Park, gradually bursting into small purple-red or white flowers. With their larger lips and uniquely delicate shapes, these elegant blooms emit a subtle fragrance.
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