Luisia psyche Rchb.f. 1863
Photo by Peter O'Byrne, courtesy of Jaap Vermeulen, André Schuiteman and Dr. E.F. de Vogel and Their Netherlands National Herbarium Website 1863
Another Flower possibly another species?
Photo by Seidenfaden
Common Name or Meaning The Butterfly-Like Luisia
Flower Size 1/2" [1.3 cm]
Found in the eastern Himalayas, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in primary, broadleafed, evergreen cloud forests on karst limestone at elevations of 400 to 1500 meters as a small to medium sized, monopodial, hot to cool growing epiphyte with an elongate stout stem carrying terete, basally clasping leaves and blooms in the spring through fall on a short, 1 to 2 flowered inflorescence with the foul smelling flowers held close to the leaf axil.
Synonyms Cymbidium scarabiiforme C.S.P.Parish ex Rchb.f 1865; Luisia laosensis Guillaumin 1964
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Orchids of Burma Grant 1895/95; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; Opera Botanica #95 Seidenfaden 1988 drawing fide to the 1st photo/photo fide to Seidenfaden's photo above; Identification of the Orchids [Orchidaceae Juss.] Vietnam Averyanov 1994; Lindleyana Vol 15 No 4 2000; A Field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Thailand Vaddhanaphuti 2001 photo good; Orchids of Bhutan Pearce & Cribb 2002; Wild Orchids in Myanamar Vol 2 Tanaka 2004; A field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Thailand Vaddhanaphuti 2005 photo good; Orchids of India A Glimpse Misra 2007
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