Luisia
(said to be called after a Spanish botanist, Don Luis de Torres). SYNS. Birchea and Mesoclastes. ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about ten species of stove epiphytal orchids, natives of the East Indies and Eastern Asia, extending from the Malayan Archipelago to Japan. The species have lateral spikes of dingy green, purplish, or yellowish, sub-sessile flowers. Leaves terete, rigid, rush-like. Stems erect. Two or three species are in cultivation; they thrive on a block of wood, with sphagnum, and require a moist atmosphere in the summer, when in a growing state. Propagated by divisions.
L. alpina (alpine). A synonym of Vanda alpina.
L. macrotis (long-eared). fl. yellowish-green, with a wholly violaceous lip. Assam, 1869.
L. macrotis (long-eared). fl. yellowish-green, with a wholly violaceous lip. Assam, 1869.
L. microptera (small-winged). fl. straw-colour, small, racemose; lip half purplish, half yellow. Assam, 1870.
L. platyglossa (broad-lipped).* fl. dull dirty-purple, or with white sepals and petals; racemes few-flowered; petals equalling, or longer than, dorsal sepals; lateral sepals keeled; lip convex, oblong, rotundate at base. Khasia. A stout species, sometimes with an enormous development of downy roots. (B. M. 3648, under name of Cymbidium triste.) L. Psyche (Psyche). fl. curiously marked, axillary, solitary; petals yellowish-green; lip reticulated with violet-purple. l. quill-like, about 6in. long. Stems erect, terete. Burmah, 1865. (B. M. 5558.)