Luisia Explained

Luisia, commonly known as velvet orchids^[1] or 钗子股属 (chai zi gu shu),^[2] is a genus of epiphytic or lithophytic orchids in family Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus have flattened roots, long leafy stems, narrow, thick, leathery leaves and short-lived flowers that open sporadically. There are about forty species found from tropical and subtropical Asia to the Western Pacific.

Description

Orchids in the genus Luisia are epiphytic or lithophytic, monopodial herbs with long, fibrous stems and thick, more or less flattened roots. A large number of cylinder-shaped, narrow leathery leaves are arranged along the stems. Up to ten resupinate, usually small, fleshy flowers are arranged on a short, thickened flowering stem and open sporadically. Each flower has a short, curved stalk and petals that are longer than the sepals. The labellum is large and fleshy with an upper epichile separated by a groove from the lower concave hypochile. The labellum has a rigid connection to the column.^{[3] [4]}

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Luisia was first formally described in 1829 by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré and the description was published in Voyage autour du monde fait par ordre du Roi sur les corvettes de S. M. l'Uranie et la Physicienne.^{[5] [6]} The name Luisia honours Don Luis de Torres who assisted the French expedition at Guam.^[7]

Distribution

Orchids in the genus Luisia occur in Bhutan, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Guinea the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Micronesia and Melanesia.

Species list

The following is a list of species of Luisia accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at December 2018:

• Luisia abrahami Vatsala in A.Abraham & P.Vatsala, 1981
• Luisia amesiana Rolfe, 1893
• Luisia antennifera Blume, 1849
• Luisia appressifolia Aver., 2000
• Luisia balakrishnanii S.Misra 2010
• Luisia brachystachys (Lindl.) Blume, 1849
• Luisia cantharis Rolfe, 1895
• Luisia celebica Schltr., 1911
• Luisia confusa Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers, 1863
• Luisia cordatilabia Ames & Quisumb. (1933, publ. 1934)
• Luisia curtisii Seidenf., 1997
• Luisia filiformis Hook.f., 1890
• Luisia foxworthii Ames, 1908
• Luisia hancockii Rolfe, 1896
• Luisia javanica J.J.Sm., 1914
• Luisia jonesii J.J.Sm., 1914
• Luisia longispica Z.H.Tsi & S.C.Chen, 1994
• Luisia lui T.C.Hsu & S.W.Chung 2010
• Luisia macrantha Blatt. & McCann, 1932
• Luisia macrotis Rchb.f., 1869
• Luisia magniflora Z.H.Tsi & S.C.Chen, 1994
• Luisia megasepala Hayata, 1914
• Luisia microptera Rchb.f., 1870
• Luisia morsei Rolfe, 1903
• Luisia occidentalis Lindl. 1853
• Luisia parviflora Aver. 2015
• Luisia primulina C.S.P.Parish & Rchb.f., 1874
• Luisia psyche Rchb.f., 1863
• Luisia ramosii Ames, 1911
• Luisia recurva Seidenf., 1971
• Luisia secunda Seidenf., 1971
• Luisia taurina J.J.Sm., 1910
• Luisia tenuifolia Blume, 1849
• Luisia teres (Thunb.) Blume, 1849
• Luisia thailandica Seidenf., 1971
• Luisia trichorhiza (Hook.) Blume, 1849
• Luisia tristis (G.Forst.) Hook.f., 1890
• Luisia unguiculata J.J.Sm., 1926
• Luisia volucris Lindl., 1853
• Luisia zeylanica Lindl. 1853
• Luisia zollingeri Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers, 1863

Intergeneric hybrids

• x Aeridisia (Aerides x Luisia)
• x Aeridovanisia (Aerides x Luisia x Vanda)
• x Ascogastisia (Ascocentrum x Gastrochilus x Luisia)
• x Debruyneara (Ascocentrum x Luisia x Vanda)
• x Dominyara (Ascocentrum x Luisia x Neofinetia x Rhynchostylis)
• x Gastisia (Gastrochilus x Luisia)
• x Gastisocalpa (Gastrochilus x Luisia x Pomatocalpa)
• x Goffara (Luisia x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
• x Luascotia (Ascocentrum x Luisia x Neofinetia)
• x Luicentrum (Ascocentrum x Luisia)
• x Luichilus (Luisia x Sarcochilus)
• x Luinetia (Luisia x Neofinetia)
• x Luinopsis (Luisia x Phalaenopsis)
• x Luisanda (Luisia x Vanda)
• x Luistylis (Luisia x Rhynchostylis)
• x Luivanetia (Luisia x Neofinetia x Vanda)
• x Pageara (Ascocentrum x Luisia x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
• x Papilisia (Papilionanthe x Luisia) One species of Papilionanthe was re-classified as a hybrid with this genus (× Papilisia taiwaniana)
• x Pomatisia (Luisia x Pomatocalpa)
• x Scottara (Aerides x Arachnis x Luisia)
• x Trautara (Doritis x Luisia x Phalaenopsis)

Notes and References

1. Book: Jones. David L.. A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. 2006. New Holland. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.. 1877069124. 436.
2. Web site: Chen . Xinqi . Wood . Jeffrey J. . Luisia . Flora of China . 24 December 2018.
3. Web site: D.L.Jones . T.Hopley . S.M.Duffy . David L. Jones (botanist) . 2010 . 28 May 2021 . Luisia . . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government.
4. Book: Pridgeon . Alec M. (ed.) . Cribb . Phillip J. (ed.) . Chase . Mark W. (ed.) . Rasmussen . Finn N. (ed.) . Genera Orchidacearum . Oxford University Press . 9780199646517 . 204–208.
5. Web site: Luisia. APNI. 24 December 2018.
6. Book: Guadichaud-Beaupré . Charles . Voyage autour du monde fait par ordre du Roi sur les corvettes de S. M. l'Uranie et la Physicienne. Botanique . 1829 . Paris . 426–427 . 24 December 2018.
7. Web site: Luís de Torres . Guampedia . 24 December 2018.