Dischidia is a genus of plants in the “dog-bane” family Apocynaceae, collectively known as the “milkweeds” (true perennial milkweeds in the Apocynaceae are found in the genus Asclepias). They are epiphytes, native to tropical areas of China, India as well as Bhutan’s southern borders, wherever minimal frost occurs. Additionally, they are known from most areas of Mainland Southeast Asia, including forested areas of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and some parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Several species are also native to Papua New Guinea and northeastern Australia.

Description

Overview

Dischidia are closely related to their sister-genus Hoya, whose range they overlap in some regions. Unlike Hoya, the genus Dischidia is poorly-known and has not been studied as closely.

Habitat

Most Dischidia grow in arboreal ant nests, of various species, and several have developed a symbiotic relationship with the insects. The plants have even evolved modified leaves to provide the ants housing and/or storage, in exchange for pollination of their blooms. Of these symbiotic adaptations, there are two types of modification to the leaves:

Foliage

Three species are known to have evolved bullate leaves (hollow, bulbous structures housing the plant's root); Dischidia complex Griff, Dischidia major (Vahl) Merr. and Dischidia vidalii Becc. Both produce normal leaves (cordate in shape), in addition to the bullate ones. 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. A number of species develop imbricate leaves, which adhere tightly to the growing surface. The underside of the leaf has a space which is filled with roots, and that the ants take advantage of, such as Dischidia major, Dischidia astephana, Dischidia imbricata and Dischidia platyphylla, including many more. Plants with this type of growth habit are referred to as shingling plants, as their leaves will tend to overlap in a row as they climb up a tree, wall, or rock face, giving the appearance of tiles or roof shingles. This adaptation is evident in many other plant species, especially in the family Araceae, including Monstera dubia, some species of Epipremnum, Rhaphidophora hayi, R. cryptantha, and Scindapsus. Other clear examples of shingling can be found with the growth habits of English ivy, Marcgravia, and Ficus pumila (creeping fig).

Cultivation

A few of the species are in widespread cultivation, and can be kept as houseplants in temperate regions, or in protected conditions. At some point, between the years 2015–2020, a few species and cultivars became known via the houseplant trade, especially D. ovata, D. nummularia, and D. ioantha, along with several more. Awareness of the genus, as well as its overall popularity, has steadily increased among tropical plant growers and enthusiasts.

Species

The following is an alphabetical listing of the 125 species in this genus that are accepted by Plants of the World Online . • Dischidia aberrans • Dischidia acuminata • Dischidia acutifolia • Dischidia albida • Dischidia albiflora • Dischidia alternans • Dischidia amphorantha • Dischidia angustifolia • Dischidia antennifera • Dischidia asperifolia • Dischidia astephana • Dischidia atropurpurea • Dischidia bengalensis • Dischidia bisetulosa • Dischidia boholensis • Dischidia calva • Dischidia carinata • Dischidia chinensis • Dischidia cleistantha • Dischidia clemensiae • Dischidia cochleata • Dischidia collyris • Dischidia cominsii • Dischidia complex • Dischidia cornuta • Dischidia crassifolia • Dischidia crassula • Dischidia cyclophylla • Dischidia cylindrica • Dischidia dasyphylla • Dischidia deschampsii • Dischidia digitiformis • Dischidia dohtii • Dischidia dolichantha • Dischidia elmeri • Dischidia ericiflora • Dischidia formosana • Dischidia fruticulosa • Dischidia galactantha • Dischidia gibbifera • Dischidia griffithii • Dischidia hahliana • Dischidia hirsuta • Dischidia hollrungii • Dischidia hoyella • Dischidia imbricata • Dischidia immortalis • Dischidia incrassata • Dischidia indragirensis • Dischidia insularis • Dischidia kerrii • Dischidia khasiana • Dischidia kutchinensis • Dischidia lanceolata • Dischidia lancifolia • Dischidia latifolia • Dischidia lauterbachii • Dischidia listerophora • Dischidia litoralis • Dischidia longe-pedunculata • Dischidia longiflora • Dischidia longifolia • Dischidia luzonica • Dischidia major • Dischidia mariae • Dischidia maxima • Dischidia melanesica • Dischidia meleagridiflora • Dischidia merrillii • Dischidia micholitzii • Dischidia micrantha • Dischidia milnei • Dischidia neurophylla • Dischidia nicobarica • Dischidia nummularia • Dischidia oblongata • Dischidia obovata • Dischidia oiantha • Dischidia ovata • Dischidia oxyphylla • Dischidia papuana • Dischidia parasita • Dischidia parvifolia • Dischidia peltata • Dischidia phuphanensis • Dischidia picta • Dischidia platyphylla • Dischidia polilloensis • Dischidia polyphylla • Dischidia puberula • Dischidia pubescens • Dischidia punctata • Dischidia purpurea • Dischidia quinquangularis • Dischidia reniformis • Dischidia retusa • Dischidia rhodantha • Dischidia rimicola • Dischidia rosea • Dischidia roseoflavida • Dischidia rostrata • Dischidia rumphii • Dischidia ruscifolia • Dischidia saccata • Dischidia sagittata • Dischidia sarasinorum • Dischidia scortechinii • Dischidia singularis • Dischidia soronensis • Dischidia spironema • Dischidia squamulosa • Dischidia striata • Dischidia subulata • Dischidia superba • Dischidia thaithongiae • Dischidia tjidadapensis • Dischidia tomentella • Dischidia tonkinensis • Dischidia tonsuensis • Dischidia torricellensis • Dischidia tricholoba • Dischidia trichostemma • Dischidia truncata • Dischidia vadosa • Dischidia vidalii