Ludisia discolor

This is a lovely jewel orchid that though is not a native of the Western Ghats is found in India, South East Asia and Indonesia. They like to be grown moist and in full shade. Blooms during October for me.

Eulophia graminea/epidendreae

Inflorescence:  Upright branched raceme with sequentially opening flowers.
Flower size: About an inch across.
Plant habit: Terrestrial found growing in leaf litter and humus in rock crevices. The plant has a bulb like stem with alternating thin leaves.
Altitude: A little inland at sea level.
Flowering time:  September to November.
Fragrance:  None.
Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, South East Asia.
Heat tolerance: Blooms freely in the plains.
Hortus malabaricus name:  Katou-Theka Maravara

Cleisostoma tenuifolium

Inflorescence: Drooping raceme
Flower size: 7 mm across
Plant habit:  Small-sized epiphyte with thin long leaves
Altitude:  Sea level to 800 meters asl
Flowering time:  July through September
Fragrance:  None
Distribution:  South West India, Sri Lanka and Thailand
Heat tolerance:  Blooms in the plains
Hortus malabaricus name:  Tsjerou mau maravara, Kolli tsjerou mau maravara

Luisia zeylanica

Status: Common.

Inflorescence: Short raceme with 4-5 flowers.

Flower size: About 5 mm across.

Plant habit: Epiphytic, terete leaved.

Altitude: Sea level to 800 metres asl.

Flowering time:  July to August.

Fragrance:  No.

Endemism: Nepal, Southern India, Sri Lanka.

Heat tolerance: Blooms at sea level.

Aerides ringens

Status: Fairly common.
Altitude: Sea level to 2300 m.
Plant habit: Epiphytic with narrow long leaves.
Inflorescence: Raceme with some secondary branching.
Flowers: 0.5 cm across and 1.5 cm in length. Colours vary from pale pink at sea level to deep magenta at higher altitudes.
Flowering: Mar to April at higher altitudes and June to July at lower altitudes.
Endemism: Southern India and Sri Lanka.
Fragrance: No.
Heat tolerance: Blooms at sea level.

Rhytionanthos rheedei

Status: Not common.
Habit: Crawling epiphyte.
Altitude: 800 metres asl.
Inflorescence: Umbel with 2 to 4 flowers.
Flowers: Shoe shaped flowers measuring about 7 mm in length.
Flowering season: June and July.
Fragrance: No.
Heat tolerance: Blooms at lower altitudes.
Hortus Malabaricus name: Tsjerou Tecka Maravara
Endemism: Kerala, Karnataka.

Rhynchostylis retusa

Status:  Quite common.
Plant habit: Vandaceous epiphyte with striped leaves and thick long roots.
Inflorescence: Drooping raceme with about 100 flowers.
Flower size: About 1.5 cm across.
Altitude: A little inland at sea level to 800 meters asl.
Flowering time: June and July.
Fragrance: Citrus fragrance.
Heat tolerance: Blooms at sea level.
Endemism: India, Sri Lanka and South-East Asia.
Hortus malabaricus name: Ansjeli maravara and Biti maram maravara.