Ludisia discolor aka Jewel Orchid

Ludisia (Lus.) is a genus of orchids that was initially believed to have only one species, Ludisia discolor, commonly known as jewel orchid. However, in 2013, a second species, Ludisia ravanii, was discovered in the Philippines. Ludisia discolor is native to various countries including Southern China, Northeast India, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar. It is a terrestrial orchid with dark purple-brown, velvety leaves measuring 4-7cm in length and adorned with red or gold veins. The flowers, which grow on an 8cm stem, are white with a yellow lip and can reach a length of 2cm. These orchids are typically cultivated and are often found in pots since they are terrestrial plants. Ludisia also has a few variations, such as the pale albino variant called 'Alba' and the deep black variant known as 'Nigrescens'. While these plants are incredibly beautiful, they are rarely grown outside of Asia, and sourcing them may require consulting specialty sources or traveling long distances. If you are interested in growing Ludisia plants, it is important to mimic the hot and humid conditions of their natural habitat in tropical forests. They flower annually, lasting for about a month if well-fed and cared for. With their subtle and lovely colors, Ludisia orchids can be an excellent addition to any collection of tropical orchids, particularly in a shade house.