Labisia sp. Butterfly
Labisia sp. Butterfly belongs to Labisia, a small genus of understory herbs in the primrose family (Primulaceae) native to the Malesia region, best known for the culturally significant medicinal herb Labisia pumila (Kacip Fatimah). Like its relatives, it grows low to the forest floor with hairy, unbranched stems and oblong, finely-veined leaves.
Note: as a freshly imported bare-root plant, this specimen typically arrives with just a few leaves — the photo shows a more mature, fuller specimen for reference.
Care tip: Labisia are sensitive to sudden shifts in microclimate — aim for stable, consistent light, temperature, and humidity rather than frequent changes.
Give it low to medium filtered light, consistently moist humus-rich soil, and warm, stable temperatures. As with all undescribed or informally named finds, exact appearance and mature growth habit will vary — the photo shows a mature reference specimen — your bare-root plant will typically be smaller.
Few Southeast Asian understory genera carry as much traditional and cultural weight as Labisia, and finds like this one represent the ongoing documentation of the genus's diversity across the region.
Care & Specifications
| Difficulty |
Intermediate |
| Light |
Low to medium filtered light; no direct sun |
| Humidity |
60-80% |
| Watering |
Keep consistently moist; avoid waterlogging |
| Temperature |
70-85F (21-29C); avoid sudden fluctuations |
| Soil |
Moist, humus-rich soil |
| Fertilizer |
Diluted balanced fertilizer during active growth |
| Origin |
Borneo |
