D. History of knowledge of taxon: Prior to the description of 5. diluvialis in 1984, 

 workers in Orchidaceae had tried to classify specimens from the western United 

 States in three taxa of white-flowered Spiranthes: Spirant hes cernua L. C. Richard, 

 Spiranthes romanzoffiana Chamisso, and Spiranthes porrifolia Lindley. 



In 1980, a specimen of Spiranthes was collected near Golden, Colorado, that 

 appeared to be S. cernua. In 1981, live plants were collected at that site and sent to 

 Dr. Charles Sheviak, who had initiated taxonomic studies on the genus Spiranthes in 

 the early 1970's. In 1982 and 1983, Dr. Sheviak visited Colorado and Utah. After 

 examining herbarium specimens and live plants in the field, and after cytologic 

 study, Dr. Sheviak described the Colorado-Utah plants as a new species (Sheviak 

 1984; from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1992). 



E. Comments on current alternative taxonomic treatments: There are no known 

 current alternative taxonomic treatments. 



2. Present legal or other formal status. 



A. International. 



1. Present designated or proposed legal protection or regulation: As a 



member of the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae), Spiranthes diluvialis is included 

 on the CITES Appendix II list. Species listed in Appendix II require a permit 

 from the country of origin prior to export. International trade in this species 

 has not been documented. 



2. Other current formal status recommendations: None. 



B. National. 



1. United States. 



a. Present designated or proposed legal protection or regulation: 



The Ute ladies' -tresses {Spiranthes diluvialis) was listed as a 

 threatened species on January 17, 1992 (57 FR 2053 under the 

 authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act) as amended 

 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1992). 



b. Other current formal status: It is not known from federal lands in 

 Montana. It has been placed on the watch list for the Bureau of Land 

 Management (USDI BLM 1996). 



