A Refreshing Taipei Stroll: The Elegant Blooming of "Spiranthes sinensis" at Guandu Nature Park

Text by MOOK Travel Life Net, reported and compiled by Chen Guanxin

 

As spring returns and flowers bloom everywhere, various plants are putting on a colorful display. The "Spiranthes sinensis" in Guandu Nature Park is also in full bloom at this time. Named for its flower spike that resembles a ribbon, Spiranthes sinensis is also called "Qingming Grass" because it blooms around the Qingming Festival. A member of the Orchidaceae family, its flower spike coils around the stem like a red or green dragon, and its fleshy roots resemble ginseng, hence it is often also referred to as "Dragon's Tongue Root."

 

When not in bloom, Spiranthes sinensis blends in with other grasses on the meadow and is hard to spot. Every year from April to early May, many tiny "dragon pillars" sprout across the grasslands of Guandu Nature Park, gradually blooming into small purple-red or white flowers with large lips, uniquely shaped, delicate, and exuding a subtle fragrance.

 

 

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