﻿AbstractSpiranthesRich. (Orchidaceae) is a commonly encountered but systematically and nomenclaturally challenging component of the North American orchid flora. Here, the evolutionary history and hybrid origin of the recently describedS.sheviakiiHough and Young are critically examined. The available molecular data unambiguously support a hybrid origin ofS.cernua(L.) Rich. ×S.ochroleuca(Rydb.) Rydb. forS.sheviakii, the same parentage as the priority nameS.×kapnosperiaM.C. Pace. As hybrid formulas can have only one correct name,S.sheviakiiis a synonym ofS.×kapnosperia. It is likely thatS.×kapnosperiaevolved independently at least twice in at least two widely disjunct locations.