Dischidia

The genus Dischidia comprises of about 80 species to date.  All are epiphytic and many are myremecodial (ant harboring) in nature.  They are found throughout South East Asia and Australia.  Dischidia are in the family Aseclepiadacea which comprises of Hoya, Ceropegia, Sarcostemma, Stapelia and many more.  Many of the plants in this large family secrete a white sticky milk-like substance when cut or damaged and therefore are also called milkweeds.

Dischidia on its own is a highly variable genus comprising of species with striking foliage like Dischidia ovata to the very simple foliage of Dischidia nummularia.  There are a few species that grow pockets along the vine which provide a safe haven for ants like D. major (rafflesiana) and D. pectinoides (vidalii).  In return for a home, the ants provide protection for the plant as well as a source of fertilizer through their excrement.  Some Dischidia grow very close to whatever object they are on and take on the shape of that object like D. platyphylla or D. cleistantha.

Dischidia also produce flowers at certain times of the year.  The flowers are highly variable but aren't fragrant for the most part.  Some grow singly like in D. ruscifolia and others grow in large clumps or packs like D. minima.  They range in color from a very simple white to a very vibrant purple like in D. hirsuta.  For the most part the flowers are predominantly small in comparison to their cousins the Hoyas and always have 5 petals.  Pollination of the flowers is usually done by various insects with wasps seemingly being one of the most common pollinators.  Some Dischidia are self pollinating and don't require the help of insects like with D. pectinoides.

For the most part, growing Dischidia at home is easy and very enjoyable.  They don't require too much attention and do quite well even when neglected.  The only 2 major problems for most Dischidia are cold and too much moisture.  Personally, I grow most all my Dischidia mounted on cork bark, driftwood or tree fern root panels.  This is done with long fibered sphagnum as the substrate.  For most of the species, I like to keep the LFS damp but not wet.  I give them filtered sun and I feed with a dilute fertilizer about every 10 days during the growing season.  Many Dischidia also make excellent terrarium subjects with D. sp. "Geri" and D. ruscifolia coming to mind.

An important note to make about this genus...  Identification.  This genus has to be one of the most confusing and undescribed genera on this planet.  Many of them are only known by species numbers, by the names of the person who first collected them or from which ever country they came from.  To date, there is no real definitive book on this genus available.  It is important to understand that what I may call Dischidia "Geri" someone else may call Dischidia oianthe.  No one has spent enough time on this genus to really identify and name all of them.  If you even attempt it, you will be in for a very rough journey.  That being said, this is still a very interesting and fun genus of plants to collect and grow despite their identification problems so enjoy it like I and so many others do!

Please feel free to browse the site and enjoy yourself.  If you see anything that you don't understand or that seems incorrect, please let me know.  My email address is frogstofall@yahoo.com  Thanks!