Species descriptions, listings "Jewel Orchids"

[Imperial_Exotics]

I'm probably posting this in the wrong forum, but it seemed the best guess.

I'm trying to find a resource for species descriptions, known species and scientific details on all Orchids that are referred to as Jewel Orchids.

Looking for books has proven to be somewhat less than helpful, as there doesn't appear to have ever been any books written on Jewel Orchids.

I'd like to find a resource with known species, locality data, cities status etc.

Anyone know if such a thing exists out there?

thanks,

Steve

[WhiteRabbit]

sorry - I can't help - hopefully someone else will be able to

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You can always look at photos on Flickr. They also have pictures of them in situ.

I think I've come across a book, but it's rare. I think it may even be out of print.

Here's a set from a person that goes by the screen name "sarawaklens" that I think you'll like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarawak...7622801051857/

[Imperial_Exotics]

yeah.....but looking at pics on the web was not quite what I had in mind.... it's just not very scientifically fulfilling.

That link did indeed have some nice pics, but again, I was really trying for scientific detail before I make any travel arrangements.

I'm leaving for Costa Rica in a couple months, and I'd like to get in some tropics as well before my summer is completely gone.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

You can always look at photos on Flickr. They also have pictures of them in situ.

[Eyebabe]

I had a jewel orchid.
It is more like a succulent.
The foliage is very pretty but imo the flowers were "meh".
I thought it died and pitched it; but my neighbor who had one kept the roots when hers kinda wilted the same and it re-grew just fine.
I like the big flower orchids so I did not invest in another

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

What's the scientific details for? Identification? Habitat details (if this is what your aim is - you're better off with the links I sent you, textual information only can sometimes be pretty vague)?

The most accessible on the web for orchids in general would be Jay Pfahl's Internet Orchid Encyclopedia (Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia).

Costa Rica isn't going to have many of the "Jewel Orchids" you see commonly for sale (e.g. Dossinia, Macodes, Anoetochilus, Ludisia).

Plants such as Dossinia spp., Anoetochilus spp., Ludisia spp., Cheirostylis, and Macodes spp. come from Asia and Australia.

Malaxis can be found in Asia, Australia, and parts of South America (but probably not in Central America).

Goodyera spp. and Zeuxine spp. can be found in both Asia and North America (actually Zeuxine is more of an Asian genus of "Jewel Orchid", with Zeuxine strateumatica being an accidental introduction to America - through grass imported from China of all things).

The only Central American "Jewel Orchids" you'll probably find belongs to the genus Cyclopogon, Pelexia, Stenorrhynchus, and a couple others that I forgot the names to at the moment. These are less spectacular looking as far as leaf patterning are concerned. They tend to be able to blend in with other plants in the surrounding area with the greatest of ease.

[Imperial_Exotics]

Costa Rica is a reef trip.

We are setting up a collecting station there for ornamental reef fishes.

I'll probably be looking to catalog some Peperomia sp. as well, maybe a bromeliad/tillandsia or two as well as check out the dart frogs.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Costa Rica isn't going to have many of the "Jewel Orchids" you see for commonly for sale (e.g. Dossinia, Macodes, Anoetochilus, Ludisia).

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Cool...

Saltwater fish and reefs used to be a hobby of mine too.

Okay...

I can give you a great place to look for Jewels that you might have interest in...

Thailand.

From what I understand, they should be found along rivers and streams in mid-elevation forests. Sometimes they're found on the limestone rocks. Sometimes on the forest floor.

Another place would probably be Malaysia.

From there on it's probably better to ask the locals. They know the spots better than any scientific books.

That's how I found Spathoglottis plicata in the Caribbean islands. I asked around (not specifically for Spathoglottis plicata, btw, just for orchids in general) until I found someone trustworthy and knowledgeable enough to show me where they were. One thing's for sure...the books weren't going to tell me where I actually found the orchids.

If I had more time, I could've found much more than just Spathoglottis.

[Imperial_Exotics]

Yeah, most of the known species come from all over the southeast Asia area, Including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos etc.

There is probably a plethora of unidentified jewel orchids still out there.

I was look for a book, much like Heiko Bleher's Book on the Amazon where he plotted out specifics of different species. That gives you plenty of data to plot probabilities on based on distribution densities.

So far I have found virtually nothing.

I'm just trying to get a breakdown of known and imported species either here or Japan. One for their scientific data, and secondly to add to my current collection.

As usual, I seem to have a knack for taking an interest in that which is all but impossible to find.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Cool...

Saltwater fish and reefs used to be a hobby of mine too.

Okay...

I can give you a great place to look for Jewels that you might have interest in...

Thailand.

From what I understand, they should be found along rivers and streams in mid-elevation forests. Sometimes they're found on the limestone rocks. Sometimes on the forest floor.

Another place would probably be Malaysia.

From there on it's probably better to ask the locals. They know the spots better than any scientific books.