It is native to Japan (including Nansei-shoto), and China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang), Korea.

[2][3] Its vernacular name in Japanese, ebine, (海老根) means "shrimp-root" in reference to the shape of the plant's pseudobulbs and root system.

The plant typically has 2-3 thin leaves with varying shapes, featuring five longitudinal veins and a slender leaf stalk.

[7] The "Ebine Boom" of the 1970s and 1980s declined due to widespread viral infections, prompting growers to stop cultivation.

[8] Research suggests that stem cell extracts from Calanthe discolor can stimulate growth factors and enhance tissue protein synthesis such as collagen and elastin.