!Ludisia discolor [Ker-Gawl.]A. Rich. 1825

Flower Closeup

Even more closeup showing pilose sepals Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl

Flower Closeup Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt

Leaves Photo courtesy of Mogens Christensen

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Common Name The Jewel Orchid - The Differently Colored Ludisia

Flower Size to 3/4" [to 1 .7 cm]

From India to Indonesia and S. E. Asia is the home of this hot to warm growing 'jewel orchid', so called because of their dark green leaves criscrossed with red lateral lines, that makes them quite appealing even when not in bloom, which is interesting but not fantastic. This species is a terrestrial or lithophytic plant occuring in evergreen, lowland forests in shady, humid habitats with rocky substrates along streams and rivers without psuedobulbs, the fleshy red stems twisted, erect or pendulous are 8 to 10" [20 to 25 cm] long and have stalked elliptic-lanceolate 2 to 3" [5 to 7.5 cm] leaves and blooms in the spring on a terminal cylindrical fairly dense 4 to 12" [10 to 30 cm] long inflorescence that has small asymetrical, fragrant flowers that last 2 to 3 weeks. They can be potted with 50% potting soil and 50% tree bark, given deep shade and humid well watered conditions year round. If the leaves lose the dark green and a lot of pale red is visible they are getting too much light.

Synonyms Anoectochilus dawsonianus H.Low ex Rchb.f. 1868; Anoectochilus ordeanus Jennings 1875; Gonogona discolor Link 1822; *Goodyera discolor Ker-Gawl. 1816; Goodyera ordeana (Jennings) Boxall ex Náves in F.M.Blanco 1880; Goodyera rodigasciana L.Linden 1886; Goodyera rubrovenia B.S.Williams 1862; Haemaria dawsoniana (H.Low ex Rchb.f.) Hasselb. in L.H.Bailey 1915; Haemaria discolor [Ker-Gawl.]Lindley 1840; Haemaria discolor var. concolor Ridl 1896; Haemaria discolor var. condorensis Gagnep. 1934; Haemaria discolor var. dawsoniana (H.Low ex Rchb.f.) B.S.Williams 1894; Haemaria discolor var. denisoniana Kerch. 1894; Haemaria discolor var. grandis Gagnep. 1934; Haemaria discolor var. ordeana (Jennings) B.S.Williams 1894; Haemaria discolor var. rhodoneura Schltr. 1913; Haemaria discolor var. trilineata Schltr. 1913; Haemaria otletae Rolfe 1891; Haemaria pauciflora Gagnep. 1933; Haemaria rubrovenia (B.S.Williams) Rchb.f. ex Stein 1891; Ludisia dawsoniana (H.Low ex Rchb.f.) Aver. 1988; Ludisia furetii Blume 1858; Ludisia odorata Blume 1859; Ludisia otletae (Rolfe) Aver. 1988; Myoda rufescens Lindley 1832; Neottia discolor (Ker Gawl.) Steud. 1821; Orchiodes discolor (Lindl.) Kuntze 1891

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Burma Grant 1895/1995 as Haemaria discolor; Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984; The Wild Orchids of China Tsi, Chen & Mori 1997; Orchids of Sumatra Comber 2001; Flora Malesiana Orchids of the Philippines Vol I Agoo, Shuiteman and de Vogel 2003; Orchids of Vietnam, Illustrated survey, part 1 Averyanov 2008

Ludisia discolor [Ker-Gawl.]A. Rich. 1825 var alba Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt

A white color form of the previous species

Ludisia discolor [Ker-Gawl.]A. Rich. 1825 var nigrescens Photo courtesy of A.J. Calisi and his T & C Terrarium website.

Differs from the type because of the lack of reticulation on the leaf.

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