Dischidia major, the Malayan urn vine, is a plant in the genus Dischidia. They carry modified leaves, offering accommodation to ants, including those of the family Dolichoderinae, and in return gain some sustenance from increased carbon dioxide and nitrogen levels, and a degree of protection from noxious animals and plants.[1] This mutualism trait, known as myrmecophily, is widespread across the plant world and clearly carries considerable benefits for both ants and plant.[2]
Dischidia major twines around the branches and trunks of trees, having a preference for those that are decaying. It produces both circular succulent leaves of about 2 cm diameter, and hollow, pouch-like 12 cm long leaves, reminiscent of the fruits of Araujia sericifera, a related species. These modified leaves, pitchers or ascidia, are purplish and richly dotted with stomata on the inner surface,[3] and have an opening at the top end near the stalk. Organic debris and rainwater, possibly augmented by secreted fluids, accumulate in the cavity over the course of time, offering a source of nutrition which the plant utilises by growing roots into the chamber. Dischidia astephana and D. parvifolia do not provide housing for resident ants, but have roots that penetrate decaying wood and humus, reaching into the ant nests and presumably obtaining nutrients from the ant waste there.[4][5]
Dischidia major flowers are yellow striped with green, and arranged in few or many-flowered umbels. The fruit of D. major consists of the usual horn-shaped pair of follicles while the seed has a tuft of silky hairs at one end and includes an edible portion or elaiosome as incentive for ants to move the seed (myrmecochory) into nests inside the tree with an improved chance of germination and growth.
Plate from Richard Wettstein's Handbuch der Systematischen Botanik 1924
Plate from Smithsonian Institution report, 1896
Plate from Anton Joseph Kerner von Marilaun, Adolf Hansen: Pflanzenleben
Dischidia major, the Malayan urn vine, is a plant in the genus Dischidia. They carry modified leaves, offering accommodation to ants, including those of the family Dolichoderinae, and in return gain some sustenance from increased carbon dioxide and nitrogen levels, and a degree of protection from noxious animals and plants. This mutualism trait, known as myrmecophily, is widespread across the plant world and clearly carries considerable benefits for both ants and plant.
Dischidia major twines around the branches and trunks of trees, having a preference for those that are decaying. It produces both circular succulent leaves of about 2 cm diameter, and hollow, pouch-like 12 cm long leaves, reminiscent of the fruits of Araujia sericifera, a related species. These modified leaves, pitchers or ascidia, are purplish and richly dotted with stomata on the inner surface, and have an opening at the top end near the stalk. Organic debris and rainwater, possibly augmented by secreted fluids, accumulate in the cavity over the course of time, offering a source of nutrition which the plant utilises by growing roots into the chamber. Dischidia astephana and D. parvifolia do not provide housing for resident ants, but have roots that penetrate decaying wood and humus, reaching into the ant nests and presumably obtaining nutrients from the ant waste there.
Dischidia major flowers are yellow striped with green, and arranged in few or many-flowered umbels. The fruit of D. major consists of the usual horn-shaped pair of follicles while the seed has a tuft of silky hairs at one end and includes an edible portion or elaiosome as incentive for ants to move the seed (myrmecochory) into nests inside the tree with an improved chance of germination and growth.
Plate from Richard Wettstein's Handbuch der Systematischen Botanik 1924
Plate from Smithsonian Institution report, 1896
Plate from Anton Joseph Kerner von Marilaun, Adolf Hansen: Pflanzenleben
Song ly to hay còn gọi là mộc tiền to, dây mỏ quạ, dây tổ kiến, tai chuột to (danh pháp hai phần: Dischidia major) là một loài dây leo ký sinh thuộc họ La bố ma (Apocynaceae), quả thường được dùng để ngâm làm rượu mỏ quạ.
Dây mỏ quạ có quả giả giống mỏ con quạ, màu xanh chứa đầy nhựa màu trắng như sữa, bên trong có chứa nhiều chất mùn và kiến thường làm tổ trong đó (nên có tên gọi dây tổ kiến), rễ mỏ quạ phát triển trong những trái giả này để hút dưỡng chất, ngoài ra cây mỏ quạ còn có rễ ôm thân cây chủ. Lá mỏ quạ khá nhỏ, màu xanh, hoa 5 cánh màu hồng tím đường kính 3–4 mm.
Quả được dùng để ngâm rượu, có tác dụng khu phong, trừ thấp, hoạt huyết, giảm đau. Chuyên dùng cho các chứng tê thấp, đổ mồi hôi tay chân, đau lưng nhức mỏi...
Bài viết liên quan đến Bộ Long đởm (Gentianales) này vẫn còn sơ khai. Bạn có thể giúp Wikipedia bằng cách mở rộng nội dung để bài được hoàn chỉnh hơn. Song ly to hay còn gọi là mộc tiền to, dây mỏ quạ, dây tổ kiến, tai chuột to (danh pháp hai phần: Dischidia major) là một loài dây leo ký sinh thuộc họ La bố ma (Apocynaceae), quả thường được dùng để ngâm làm rượu mỏ quạ.
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