Jewel orchids have been popular subjects for decades, and is now appearing to gain renewed interest, likely due to the foliage boom which took root since the COVID pandemic. It was inevitable. As people waded into begonias and sonerilas, the next steppingstone unexpectedly were the jewel orchids which were generally smaller and have similar care regimes. However, as more collectors joined in on the fray, the definition of jewel orchids became more and more loose. More muddied. The term 'jewel orchids' actually originally refers to a group of orchids included in tribe Cranichidae, most especially those from subtribe Goodyerinae. Nowadays, a jewel orchid can be any terrestrial orchid with patterned leaves. The problem with this concept is that it admits other plants that are beyond the boundaries of what essentially is a natural group. Someone in the near future with very little understanding of plant relationships but who commands a vast social media following may even include Paphiopedilum among the jewels, and people will believe it. Definitions matter. Without exact definitions, conversations quickly devolve into presumptuous claims of "you know what I am talking about." In an increasingly politically correct world, may that serve as a reminder.
And yet, despite the monicker, not all members of the cranichids have attractively patterned or pigmented leaves. Many are plain green, and some even have no leaves at all. I will let the photos do the talking from here on.
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Goodyera clausa, a member of the subtribe Goodyerinae, hence a jewel orchid.
 | | The genus Ludisia is an archetypal jewel orchid. This is L. ravanii. |
 | | Erythrodes is an obscure genus but is unmistakably a jewel orchid. |
A species of Cheirostylis. These are typically limestone specialists and have adapted to periodically dry conditions by way of the quite fleshy leaves and succulent, segmented stems. A member o the jewel orchid group.
 | | Hetaeria oblongifolia. Despite the unmarked leaves, it is a member of the jewel orchid group. |
 | | Lepidogyne longifolia is perhaps the largest species of the jewel orchid group. Note the plain green, sword-shaped leaves. |
 | | Cystorchis aphylla, a leafless (hence, 'aphylla') mycoheterotroph that is also a member of subtribe Goodyerinae. |
 | Corybas cfr. laceratus with its leaf that resembles an Anthurium crystallinum's. This orchid is from tribe Diurideae, subtribe Acianthinae.
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 | Like Corybas, Cryptostylis is also from the Diurideae, but on a different subtribe, Cryptostylidinae. This is C. taiwaniana.
 | | Crepidium bancanoides, from the tribe Malaxideae, subtribe Malaxidineae. The most instantly recognizable relative is Liparis. |
 | Nephelaphyllum mindorense is from tribe Collabieae, therefore not a jewel orchid.
So, how can you tell if an orchid is a member of the jewel orchid group? Well, the cranichids have their leaves arranged in a rosette, for starters. And, in lieu of a pseudobulb, have fleshy rhizomes that act as storage organs. They are not single-leaved like the Corybas and the nervilias are, and the leaves aren't arranged in two rows like what you see in crepidiums. But to be square about it, there really is no shortcut to this, and unless you have years of familiarity with orchids, you cannot rely on subjective visual cues. The only way to tell which is which is to hone your orchid identification skills at least at the genus level and acquaint yourself with orchid relationships. I know that it can be a bit too much for most people, but learning is always fun and satisfying. Especially if it involves the plants you love.
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