Nature Photographer/Shigeki Iimura - The twist of the Spiranthes is a whimsical twist

 

Now is the peak season for Spiranthes to bloom.

Spiranthes blooming in clusters in the meadow.

At this time of year, the pink flowers of the Spiranthes stand out in low-growing meadows that look like they are covered in a carpet of grass.
Each individual flower is dainty and lovely, and I often see them being used as models by photographers here and there.
Now, did you know that these Spiranthes can twist either to the right or to the left?

Which way are you twisted?

When you look at the flower from directly above, it twists counter-clockwise as it rises.
This is a right-handed twist.

This one is a left-handed twist, where the flowers rise in a clockwise direction.

The left is a right-handed twist, and the right is a left-handed twist. Can you tell?

Finding a left-handed twist and a right-handed twist side-by-side like this is one of the joys of a nature walk.
If you have a photo like this, you can explain both right-handed and left-handed twists in a single picture.

Twisted, even though it's not twisted?

A Spiranthes without a twist.

Usually, we call a crooked person a contrarian compared to a straight person, but since the flower in the photo above calls itself a 'Spiranthes' (twisted flower) yet isn't twisted, does that make it a contrarian among Spiranthes? ♪
During this peak season for Spiranthes, why don't you try looking for some oddballs too?
Nature Photographer/Shigeki Iimura