Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Description
Although commonly considered an ant-plant, water and cockroaches are the only recorded contents but more field work will probably add other infauna. I post this primarily to show that the much vaunted scaphoid (boat-shaped) tubers are not a consistent feature. Also to correct the misspelling on my previous example. This system frustrates all of my attempts to correct the missing letter i.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Description
This is the tuberous epiphyte bottom left of center. The much larger pendent tuber center stage is S. wilsonii.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Description
An optional myrmecodomic symbiont that can also house frog and gecko species.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Place
Near Sibonai Village, Sewa Bay, Normanby Island, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. (Google, OSM)Description
This specimen was rescued from a felled New Guinea Rosewood tree; a product of the slash & burn agriculture still practiced in much of Papua New Guinea. After recording details, rescued specimens were tied to trees in the grounds of the guest house for all future visitors to enjoy.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus DischidiaObserver
derrick1Description
This plant was growing in a myrmecophyte guild made up of Anthorrhiza areolata, A. bracteosa, and Lecanopteris sinuosa.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dischidia ovataObserver
derrick1Place
Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia. (Google, OSM)Description
This a reddish growth form is found in plants growing on shrubs of wallum heath lands where soils are largely composed of nutrient poor silica sands.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dischidia ovataObserver
derrick1Place
Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia. (Google, OSM)Description
Dischidia ovata Benth. (George Bentham) published in the London Journal of Botany 2, p226, (1843). http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/783508#page/226/mode/1up
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37724452#page/321/mode/1up Synonym D. picta Blume. (Carl Ludwig von Blume) http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/446627#page/150/mode/1up. With a note “forsan a nostra non diversa” which means ‘perhaps no different from our own’ indicating that synonymy was probable.
Description. A semi-succulent leafed, very delicate non-myrmecophytic vining species. A horticultural name of Water Melon plant alludes to the more commonly seen rain forest form with attractively mottled green leaves; often considered the most beautiful of all dischidias. Seeds air-borne and it also spreads by windblown vine sections especially after tropical storms.
Habitats. In far North Queensland, it seldom grows intimately with D. nummularia and D. major. Here its long delicate streamers hung in heavily canopied monsoonal rain forests where its very green leaf form is far less succulent than are those of plants in more exposed locations. It is certainly a plant preferring shaded, epiphyte-friendly sites, but its habitats sometimes overlap with myrmecophytes in their sun-exposed positions. For example in the harsh, open environments of siliceous-soiled Australian wallum heath lands, its leaves become far more succulent; and albeit very rarely, become a particularly beautiful bright red, adorned with outstandingly attractive white crosses. A perfect example of which I have yet to photograph. However, it is extremely challenging to maintain this borderline survival colour in cultivation.
Range, includes nearby New Guinea and possibly the entire Malesian floristic province.
Photos / Sounds
What
Wax Plants (Genus Hoya)Observer
derrick1Description
This is the plant with veined leaves that is growing out of what is possibly a Hydnophytum tuber. Many hoyas have ant-attractive seeds, so it is possible that a seed was carried into the Hydnophytum by a resident ant and has then germinated.
Photos / Sounds
What
String of Nickels (Dischidia nummularia)Observer
derrick1Description
This is the button leafed epiphyte scrambling over the Hydnophytum tuber.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lecanopteris sinuosaObserver
derrick1Description
This image has also been included under Anthorrhiza areolata the accompanying ant-plant species that has tubers.
I cannot locate Deidei Hot Springs on the accompanying map so the lat/lon figures are guesses.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Description
There are two plants here the tuberous Hydnophytum species and what is probably a Hoya growing out of the tuber. The Hoya has veined leaves.
It was found by ecoguide Enoch Bulunamur and photographed by Des Hume. I was not there. It may be the locally common H. moseleyanum but its branching from the tuber bottom is unusual.
Photos / Sounds
What
String of Nickels (Dischidia nummularia)Observer
derrick1Description
Probably a small leafed form of D. nummularia.
Photos / Sounds
What
String of Nickels (Dischidia nummularia)Observer
derrick1Description
This is the typical small leafed form of the immensely widespread Dischidia nummularia. The Australian form the one I know best, has the largest leaves.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Description
The two plants top left with smooth tubers. The species lower right is Myrmecodia platytyrea subsp antoinii.
Photos / Sounds
What
String of Nickels (Dischidia nummularia)Observer
derrick1Description
Here scrambling as it often does over tubers of Myrmecodia beccarii.
Photos / Sounds
What
String of Nickels (Dischidia nummularia)Observer
derrick1Place
Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) National Park. Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia. (Google, OSM)
Photos / Sounds
What
Malayan Urn Vine (Dischidia major)Observer
derrick1Place
Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) National Park. Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia. (Google, OSM)Description
http://www.cactusexplorers.org.uk/Explorer5/Cactus%20Explorer%205_complete.pdf
See pages 54 onward.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Description
Some consider this is merely a form of H. moseleyanum.
Photos / Sounds
What
Hydnophytum radicansObserver
derrick1Description
Seedlings. The smaller leafed species with 'warted' tubers is probably Hydnophytum petiolatum. The larger leaved plants may be H. radicans.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
derrick1Description
M. schlechteri subsp. schlechteri var. schlechteri. C. R. Huxley & Jebb revision Blumea 37(2) p310, (1993).
Tubers cylindrical to 57x11 cm with sparse to dense weak spines. Stems 1- 3, branched, up-turned, apex tapered, not overtopped by spines. Stems differ from var. longispina being branched, and upturned with thinner, acuminate, distinctly petioled leaves.
Habitat/Range common in disturbed forests and agricultural areas between 800- 1550 m. (2625- 5085 ft.) on She Oak Casuarina/Allocasuarina and Chinquapin Castanopsis trees mostly with less than 25cm (10") rainfall p.a. Records, PNG. Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Madang, Morobe and Simbu (Chimbu) Provinces.
