Ludisia discolor

Jewel orchid

Ludisia discolor (scientific name: Ludisia discolor) is an evergreen perennial, small, terrestrial orchid native to southern China, northern Thailand, and Vietnam in the genus Ludisia of the orchid family. This alone constitutes one genus and one species. It is a type of orchid that is more concerned with its foliage than its flowers, and is called a "jewel orchid" because its foliage shines in the light. Among these orchids, this Rudisia is considered easy to grow even for beginners because it is hardy, tolerates drought, and multiplies well. The plant is about 25 cm tall. The stems are reddish-purple in color, and the roots emerge from the nodes. Three to four fleshy leaves are produced from the axils of the rhizome in a rosette shape. The leaves are dark green or reddish purple, 5-8 cm long, ovate-lanceolate with a velvety surface and five distinct reddish-gold veins. In the spring, the inflorescence grows in a raceme at the tip of the flower stalk and bears several to 10 or more small white orchid-shaped flowers, about 0.7 cm across, per inflorescence. The lip petals are twisted and bent.

Origin of flower name
The genus name "Ludisia" is from a human name, and the species name "discolor" is from the leaf color, meaning "two-colored".

Jewel Orchid Companion

Common name: Ludisia discolor, scientific name: Ludisia discolor, Japanese name: Hong Kong satin orchid, aka : Jewel orchid, habitat: China, Thailand, Vietnam, etc., distribution: Hilly to subalpine mountainsides and valleys, Living environment: moist, semi-shady habitats under evergreen forests, Height: 10-25 cm, Grass width: 15 cm, Leaf texture: velvety, Petiole: 1.5-2.2 cm, Leaf shape: ovate to oblong-ovate, acute, Leaf length: 3-7 cm, Leaf width: 1.5-2.5 cm, Leaf width Leaf width: 1.5-3 cm, Leaf color: dark green or light reddish brown with a reddish brown underside, leaf surface with 5 main golden-red veins or reticulate pattern, inflorescence: alternate, flowering season: February-April, inflorescence length: 3-8 cm, inflorescence shape: raceme, number of flowers per inflorescence: several to more than 10, flower color: white, corolla shape: orchid with twisted and bent lip petals Flower diameter: 0.7 cm, Anther color: yellow, Uses: ornamental plant, terrarium, mossarium, whole plant is folk medicine.

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Ludisia discolor
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