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''Dischidia'' is a genus of plants in the Milkweed 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. 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.〔S. Liede-Schumann (2006). (''The Genera of Asclepiadoideae, Secamonoideae and Periplocoideae (Apocynaceae): Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval'' ) Version: 21 September 2000.〕 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'', ''Dischidia astephana'', ''Dichidia imbricata'' and ''Dischidia platyphylla'' , 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.〔Rintz, R.E. (1980). The Peninsular Malayan species of ''Dischidia'' (Asclepiadaceae). Blumea 26:81-126.〕 A few of the species in widespread cultivation. == Species == ;Species moved to other genera: # ''Dischidia chinghungensis,'' syn of ''Hoya chinghungensis'' # ''Dischidia papuana,'' syn of ''Dischidiopsis papuana'' # ''Dischidia yunnanensis,'' syn of ''Biondia yunnanensis'' 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dischidia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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