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plants text index | photo
index
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| mangroves |
| Ant-house
plant Dischidia sp. Family Asclepiadaceae updated Nov 10 Where seen? This odd plant with bulbous leaves is sometimes seen in our mangroves, growing on trees and shrubs. According to Hsuan Keng, it was common on trees all over Singapore especially near the sea. According to Corners, the Subfamily Asclepiadoideae has "exceedingly complicated flowers, more so than even that of orchids and the family is considered on of the most highly evolved among flowering plants". You wouldn't quite think that looking at this rather stringy plant. Features: An epiphyte that grows on trees and shrubs. There are two kinds of leaves, arranged opposite one another. Small circular fat leaves (2-2.5cm) and larger hollow leaves (7-12cm long) that are oval. The large leaves are yellowish green on the outside and purple on the inside. These hollow leaves have an entrance at the base for ants and aerial roots. Ants actually take up residence inside the large hollow leaves. The ants get a safe place to stay, while the plant benefits from the minerals found in the ants left-overs and wastes. Flowers are small, waxy and golden yellow. When the plant is injured, a white sap is produced. The seeds are often dragged away by ants, which feed on fat particles produced by the plant. Status and threats: Many of our Dischia species are listed as 'Nationally Extinct' or 'Critically Endangered' on the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore. |
 Chek Jawa, May 04 |
 Roots grow nside the hollow leaf. |
 Small circular fat leaves. |
 Large hollow leaves. |
Ant-house plants on Singapore shores
 Mandai, Mar 11 |
 Fruit pods. Mandai, Mar 11 |
 Flowers. Mandai, Mar 11 |
 Pulau Ubin, Jan 09 |
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 Flowers. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09 |
 Flowers. Chek Jawa, May 09 |
 Flowers.Chek Jawa, Sep 09 |
 Pulau Semakau, Jan 09 |
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Links
References
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Singapore University Press. 222 pp.|
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