ຫຍ້າໃບລາຍ / Lyle's Jewerly Orchid

This species has not yet been satisfactorily identified and is still confused with other Anoectochilus and Ludisia sp. Orchids from this genus live on the ground and have a specialised lateral (sympodial) growth: the terminal bud dies, and the plant then branches and grows sideways. Nha bai lai is a creeping plant with 5-10 cm high shoots. Its yellow-green to reddish stems have internodes every 1-2 cm. The simple leaves are spirally arranged, egg-shaped, and yellow-green or reddish-green with yellow-reddish veins. The erect inflorescence is 20-25 cm long with three to six pink-white flowers. This plant is collected for its ornamental and medicinal value, and is believed to help reduce aging. It prefers low light intensity, leaf litter and mossy rocks near streams, and ranges from Myanmar and Vietnam down through Laos and Thailand to Malaysia. Nha bai lai is more common in northern Laos but is also found in central and southern areas along streams and slopes on loamy or red clays. Propagation is possible by both seed and rhizome, but by rhizome is preferred. Nha bai lai roots shoot from the nodes but the many attempts to raise from these have been unsuccessful. Tissue culture has, however, proven successful in Thailand.