jewel orchid

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• jewel orchid

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Haemaria discolor var. ordeana
• Ludisia discolor var. dawsoniana
• Gonogona discolor
• Haemaria discolor
• Anoectochilus rubrovenia
• Haemaria discolor var. concolor
• Haemaria discolor var. condorensis
• Myoda rufescens
• Anoectochilus dawsonianus
• Anoectochilus ordeanus
• Haemaria dawsoniana
• Kuhlhasseltia carrii
• Ludisia dawsoniana
• Neottia discolor
• Haemaria otletae
• Ludisia furetii
• Ludisia odorata
• Haemaria pauciflora
• Ludisia otletae
• Goodyera dawsoniana
• Goodyera discolor
• Goodyera ordeana
• Haemaria discolor var. dawsoniana
• Goodyera rubrovenia
• Goodyera ordiana
• Goodyera rodigasciana
• Orchiodes discolor
• Haemaria discolor var. denisoniana
• Ludisia discolor var. ordiana
• Haemaria discolor var. grandis
• Haemaria discolor var. rhodoneura
• Haemaria discolor var. trilineata
• Haemaria rubrovenia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Asparagales and the family Orchidaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Ludisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several specific regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan provinces. Its range also extends into the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, it is documented to grow within the borders of Cambodia. Furthermore, the species is also native to the tropical landscapes of Laos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ludisia discolor is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a geophyte, it maintains its survival by storing essential nutrients and energy in underground structures, which protects the plant during unfavorable environmental conditions. This specialized life form is further classified under the broader category of cryptophyte, indicating that its vital regenerative organs are located below the soil surface, ensuring long-term stability and continuous regrowth within its ecological niche.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ludisia discolor is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 0.2 m. It functions as a self-supporting plant, exhibiting no climbing tendencies, and maintains an independent lifestyle without being a parasite. Although some members of its family exhibit various epiphytic habits, this species is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit. The plant's structure is entirely non-woody, typical of its herbaceous classification.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Ludisia discolor primarily occurs through the production of microscopic seeds and vegetative propagation via creeping rhizomes. The sexual reproductive cycle involves the development of specialized seeds that are characterized by their incredibly minute scale. Quantitatively, the seed mass is highly consistent, with a mean value of 9e-07 g. This uniformity is reflected in the extreme precision of its physical dimensions, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values are also 9e-07 g. Such minuscule seed size is typical for many orchidaceous species, facilitating dispersal through air currents or water, while the plant simultaneously relies on its robust rhizomatous growth to colonize local substrates.

Seed mass mean:

9e-07 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ludisia discolor has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Tropical life sciences research
2. Genes

Chemicals

Ludisia discolor has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, ABA, Antioxidant Activity, CHLOROPHYLL, Carbon.

Anthocyanins

1. Tropical life sciences research
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

ABA

1. Genes

Antioxidant Activity

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Carbon

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoid

1. Genes

Flavonoids

1. Tropical life sciences research

GA

1. Genes

IAA

1. Genes

Neohesperidin

1. Genes