Plants in this genus have flattened roots, long leafy stems, narrow, thick, leathery leaves and short-lived flowers that open sporadically.

[1] Orchids in the genus Luisia are epiphytic or lithophytic, monopodial herbs with long, fibrous stems and thick, more or less flattened roots.

[1][7][8] The name Luisia honours Don Luis de Torres who assisted the French expedition at Guam.

[8][9] Orchids in the genus Luisia occur in Bhutan, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Guinea the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Micronesia and Melanesia.

[1][4] The following is a list of species of Luisia accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at December 2018:[1]