Dischidia

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Dischidia
Dischidia collyris Blanco1.212-cropped.jpg
[1]
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe:
Genus: Dischidia
R.Br.

Dischidia is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae. They are epiphytes native to tropical areas of China, India and most areas of Indo-China. Dischidia are closely aligned with the sister genus Hoya. Unlike Hoya, the genus Dischidia is poorly known and has not been studied as closely. A few of the species in widespread cultivation, and can be kept as houseplants in temperate regions.

Most Dischidia grow in arboreal ant nests of different species and some have developed a symbiotic relationship where the plant has developed modified leaves to either provide housing or storage. Of these there are two types of modification to the leaves. Three species develop bullate leaves which are hollow root-filled structures. These are Dischidia complex Griff, Dischidia major (Vahl) Merr. and Dischidia vidalii Becc. Both produce normal leaves (cordate in shape) in addition to the bullate leaves. These bullate leaves are formed when the outer margins of a leaf stop growing while the center of the leaf continues to grow. As time progresses the leaf margins curl under to close the gap which creates a small hole.[2]

A number of species develop imbricate leaves which hold tightly to the growing surface. The underside of the leaf has a space which is filled with roots that the ants take advantage of. Examples of these species are Dischidia major, , and , but there are many more. Plants with this type of growth habit are sometimes called Shingle Plants, which are given this name because the leaves tend to overlap as the grow up or down the surface and give the appearance of shingles on a roof.[3]

Species[]

D. major illustration from Pflanzenleben by Anton Kerner von Marilaun, 1913
D. bengalensis, Göttingen
D. imbricata on Millettia pinnata at Foster Botanical Garden, Honolulu
D. nummularia habitus, Berlin
D. hirsuta at Boltz Conservatory, Madison, WI
  1. Schltr.
  2. Costantin
  3. Maingay
  4. Elmer.
  5. Griff.
  6. Griff.
  7. Schltr.
  8. K.Schum. & Lauterb.
  9. Miq.
  10. Becc.
  11. Schltr.
  12. Scort. ex King & Gamble
  13. Schltr.
  14. Tsiang & P. T. Li
  15. Costantin
  16. Colebr.
  17. O.Schwartz
  18. (Schltr.) Livsch.
  19. Pearson
  20. Champ. ex Benth.
  21. Livsh.
  22. Schltr.
  23. Blume
  24. Wall.
  25. Hook.
  26. Griff.
  27. Livsh.
  28. Zipp. ex Schltr.
  29. Schltr.
  30. Schltr.
  31. W.W.Sm.
  32. Schltr.
  33. King & Gamble
  34. Becc.
  35. Schltr.
  36. Tran & Livsh.
  37. Schltr.
  38. Becc.
  39. Maxim.
  40. Ridley
  41. K.Schum.
  42. Schltr.
  43. Hook.f.
  44. Volkens
  45. Warb.
  46. Decne.
  47. Warb. ex K.Schum. & Lauterb.
  48. Omlor
  49. (Blume) Decne.
  50. Guillaumin
  51. Schltr.
  52. Schltr.
  53. Hook.f.
  54. (Blume) Decne.
  55. Ridley
  56. (Blume) Decne.
  57. K.Schum.
  58. Schltr.
  59. Ridl.
  60. Becc.
  61. Becc.
  62. Dischidia major (Vahl) Merr.
  63. Koord.
  64. Fosberg
  65. O.Schwartz
  66. Becc.
  67. Fosberg
  68. Schltr.
  69. N.E.Br.
  70. Becc.
  71. Hemsl.
  72. Lauterb. & K.Schum.
  73. Didr.
  74. Dischidia nummularia R.Br.
  75. Decne.
  76. Dischidia oiantha Schltr.
  77. Dischidia ovata Benth.
  78. Miq.
  79. Ridl.
  80. Warb.
  81. Blume
  82. Blume
  83. Schlecther
  84. Kloppenb.
  85. Ridl.
  86. Costantin
  87. Decne.
  88. Ridl.
  89. (Blume) Decne.
  90. Merrill.
  91. Schltr.
  92. Schltr.
  93. Becc.
  94. Ridl.
  95. Kerr
  96. Schl.
  97. Schltr.
  98. Miq.
  99. Dischidia ruscifolia Decne. ex Becc.
  100. Warb.
  101. Decne.
  102. Warb.
  103. King & Gamble
  104. Ridl.
  105. Craib
  106. Becc.
  107. Turcz.
  108. Becc.
  109. Schltr.
  110. Warb.
  111. Rintz
  112. Bakh.f.
  113. Ridl.
  114. Dischidia tonkinensis Costantin
  115. Schltr.
  116. (Schltr.) P.I.Forst.
  117. Kerr
  118. Schltr.
  119. Decne.
  120. Rintz
  121. Dischidia vidalii Becc.
Species moved to other genera
  1. Dischidia chinghungensis, syn of
  2. Dischidia papuana, syn of
  3. Dischidia yunnanensis, syn of
Species with Nomen nudum
  1. Dischidia diphylla Elmer

References[]

  1. ^ illustration circa 1880 from Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.) - Flora de Filipinas
  2. ^ S. Liede-Schumann (2006). The Genera of Asclepiadoideae, Secamonoideae and Periplocoideae (Apocynaceae): Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval Archived 2007-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Version: 21 September 2000.
  3. ^ Rintz, R.E. (1980). The Peninsular Malayan species of Dischidia (Asclepiadaceae). Blumea 26:81-126.
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