What is "luisia"

Luisia, abbreviated as Lsa in horticultural trade, is a genus of epiphytical orchids in family Orchidaceae. It contains about 40 species found in tropical Asia, Indian subcontinent, China, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Micronesia and Melanesia.

The genus was named by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré in 1829 for Luis de Torres, native Vice Governor of Guam.

The species in this genus are erect or climbing epiphytes with a monopodial growth and with the same vegetative look as terete (= cylindrical or tapering and circular in cross-section) Vandas. The clumped stems branch near the base and carry alternate, terete leaves, conduplicate to the stem base. The axillary, short and elongate inflorescence produce several flowers at a time. The flowers have a bee-like appearance; "bee orchid" is sometimes used as a name for the genus. The fleshy labellum is usually dark red and shows no spur at its base. The labellum is rigid and consists of two parts. The basal part has short sidelobes and may have cushion-like glands. The somewhat ovate apical part sometimes shows toothed margins.