Genus Luisia
Luisia Gaudich., in Freyc., Voy. Uranie, Bot. (1826) 426, t. 37
Synonyms:
- Genus Birchea Rich., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot.
- Genus Mesoclastes Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. (1830) 44
- Genus Trichorhiza Lindl. ex Steud., Nom.
Monopodial epiphytes. Stem elongated, with several leaves arranged in two rows. Leaves sheathing at the base, glabrous, terete, deciduous, leathery. Inflorescence lateral, very short, a raceme or carrying a single flower. Flowers small to medium-sized, resupinate, usually greenish with a maroon lip. Sepals free. Petals free, often much longer than the sepals. Lip adnate to the column, without spur, flat, more or less clearly divided into a basal part and an apical part of different thickness and texture. Column-foot absent. Pollinia 2, solid, with a short slit, caudicles absent, stipe present, viscidium present.
Species present in New Guinea:
Luisia tristis
Tropical Asia, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, east to Samoa. About 30 species; in New Guinea at least two species (one of which at present apparently undescribed).
Epiphyte in lowland and montane forest.
- Schlechter, R. 1988. Die Orchideen. Ed.3, Vol. IB, Lieferung 19 - 20. Pp. 1173-1176. Blackwell Wissenschafts Verlag, Berlin.
- Seidenfaden, G. 1971. Notes on the genus Luisia. Dansk Bot. Ark. 27, 4: 7-101.
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Vandeae
- Subtribe Aeridinae
- Genus Luisia
An easily recognised genus of monopodial orchids with terete leaves and very short inflorescences. The smallish flowers are usually green with a dark maroon lip. Luisias are occasionally cultivated, although of very limited horticultural value.
Species included in this database:
Luisia tristis
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Genus Luisia
Luisia tristis (G.Forst.) Hook.f., plant habit, photo E.F. de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20031986
Genus Luisia
Luisia tristis (G.Forst.) Hook.f., flower, oblique front view, photo E.F. de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20031986
Genus Luisia
Luisia tristis (G.Forst.) Hook.f., aerial root, photo E.F. de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20031986
Genus Luisia
Luisia tristis (G.Forst.) Hook.f., inflorescence, photo E.F. de Vogel, Leiden cult. 20031986
Genus Luisia
Luisia sp., flower, photo P. O'Byrne, based on O'Byrne L110 from PNG
Genus Luisia
Luisia beccarii Rchb.f., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, based on Gjellerup 595
Genus Luisia
Luisia beccarii Rchb.f., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, based on Gjellerup 595
Genus Luisia
Luisia teretifolia Gaudich., drawing N.H.S. Howcroft 21, from PNG, Markham Valley
Genus Luisia
Luisia aff. tristis (G.Forst.) Hook.f., drawing P. O'Byrne in Lowland Orchids of New Guinea (1994) 507, as Luisia aff. teretifolia Gaudich.