Dischidia astephana is a species of plant in the genus Dischidia native to Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.[1] A vining epiphyte that can cover an entire tree branch in dense leaves, it is often found growing near other Dischidia including D. albida, D. parvifolia, and D. vadosa.[2] Its leaves are shaped like flat rings or domes, some of which will be tightly appressed to the surface of the tree where it grows. It lives symbiotically with ants of the Crematogaster genus on trees, with the roots growing inside ant nests and using debris for nutrients.[3]
Dischidia astephana | |
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D. astephana growing in a botanical garden | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Dischidia |
Species: | D. astephana
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Binomial name | |
Dischidia astephana | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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References
edit- ^ a b "Dischidia astephana Scort. ex King & Gamble". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ Rintz, R. E. (1980-01-01). "The Peninsular Malayan species of Dischidia (Asclepiadaceae)". Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. 26 (1): 81–126. ISSN 2212-1676.
- ^ "A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus Dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 27 (2).