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List of Families

Araliaceae.

This family of plants consists mainly of trees, shrubs, and climbers. Their leaves are compound, often prominently divided. Moreover, the insignificant looking flowers are produced in umbels, Ovary inferior, later turning into a berry-like droups. They may have one to many carpels, (female reproduction organs). Usually, it is five carpels to each bloom. Although usually connected, these carpels are sometimes separate. The fruit may be fleshy or dry, and is often a berry.

This family inhabits most warm temperate, and tropical forests of the world.

Schefflera.

We may also know this genus under the name of Brassaia, Dizygotheca or Heptapleurum. They are mainly terrestrial plants, consisting of more than seven hundred shrubs, trees, and vines with tough, glossy leaves. Each leaf has leaflets that radiate from a central point like the spokes of a wheel.

Because of their shape, and size they are usually grown in a container on their own. Nevertheless, in frost free areas, these plants can be grown in the garden. Also, they can be used as a host plant for many smaller epiphytes.

Schefflera is a large genus of plants that grow in many moist tropical regions of the world. Also, the species below grows as a true epiphyte.

Schefflera elliptica

On this weak climber grow cane-like stems that can reach 4-metres (13-feet) long. This growth forms a straggly epiphytic bush. Their strength is in their roots, these can hang on, and wrap around a tree’s trunk. Like a Strangler Fig, these roots encase a trunk, and self-graft together like welded mesh. The leaves are divided into three to seven, bright green leaflets, giving each leaf a palm like appearance. Also, small flowers are produced on a branching inflorescence. These blooms are cream, and are followed by decorative, orange fruit. Normally, these flowers appear from autumn to spring.

Large plants are suitable only to tropical, and subtropical areas, or a very large greenhouse. We should keep them warm, moist, and in light shade. Also, an open potting mixture is essential. This is an unusual plant that is not often seen in collections, but can be used as a garden epiphyte in warm, frost free areas.

This plant is a native of northeastern Queensland, Australia. In addition, it is also found in Papua New Guinea, where it is a common rainforest epiphyte. Both areas provide a hot and wet season during the summer, with less rain for the rest of the year. In its most southern habitat the yearly rainfall averages 2540-millimetres (100-inches). Nevertheless, in its most northerly aspect the average yearly rainfall is about 5080-millimetres (200-inches).


Asclepiadaceae.

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This family consists of shrubs, climbers, trailers, and succulent plants, rarely trees. All plants produce a milky sap when cut, and alkaloids are often present. Flowers, often curious in appearance, are common in this family. Furthermore, the style is usually thickened, and modified at the tip. Their carpels are typically united only by their style or stigma.

Most species can be found in tropical regions. Nevertheless, some species are found in warm-temperate areas. Members of this family stretch from the Mediterranean, through Africa, and Asia, all the way to Australia. The ones listed below are all epiphytic in their natural habitat.

Dischidia.

Tropical plants of the genus Dischidia are all epiphytic climbing vines. Each has small flowers that are similar to Hoya blooms.

In cool climates they should be grown in a warm greenhouse or as a house plant. In particularly, they enjoy a moist, warm atmosphere, and good light, but not direct sunlight. Use a well-drained potting mixture that is very open, such as hardwood chips, and lumps of charcoal. Place the potting mixture into a container, Top this off with a layer of sphagnum moss on the surface. When planted into a hanging container, they climb upwards over everything they touch. The branches will twine around the hanging container chains, and often cascading down when they reach the top.

To propagate this genus, place small pieces of stems on the moist sphagnum moss, and keep in a warm, humid atmosphere until they establish themselves. Seed of this genus is rare, and it loses its viability quickly, so we should sow it soon after collection.

Dischidia imbricata

Thruppence Urn Plant

Climbing by means of wiry stems, this vine covers large sections of its host tree. Often, this plant produces roots at the leaf joints where it touches its host, in this way it attaches itself to a higher position or different branch. It will frequently cover the branches with small, rounded, fleshy leaves. The hoya-like flowers are similar to small urns.

Being frost tender this tropical species will need a warm greenhouse, or it can be grown indoors in a cold winter climate. Whichever position it is placed, it must have bright light or filtered sun. If grown in a pot, it should be kept just moist, or a little on the dry side.

Dischidia imbricata is a species that is endemic to the rainforests of Malaysia.

Dischidia major

Rattle Sculls

At intervals along the stems, this large Dischidia has bright green, large inflated leaves. Ants appear to enter the hollow leaves, and often make their nests inside them. Also, they have smaller, more normal leaves on the stem. The stem attaches itself tightly to the bark of the host by small anchor roots, helping it to climb like a vine.

Frost easily damages this species. So, we should grow this plant in a warm greenhouse or indoors in a cold climate, with a minimum temperature of 15o Celsius, (59o Fahrenheit). Keep in good light but not strong sunlight. Although ants may have a symbiotic relationship with this plant, it survives, and grows easily without any insects.

Rattle Sculls are epiphytic plants that grow on fibrous barked trees in moist, tropical areas. It is indigenous to the lowland rainforests of Queensland, Australia.

Dischidia nummularia

Button Orchid

Climbing by attaching its roots to the host tree, this epiphyte can reach a height of 3-metres (9-feet 8-inches). It has pendent stems, and small button-like, silver-grey leaves. The inflorescence is an umbel of small white tubular flowers with a ring of sparse hairs inside. Masses of fluffy seeds develop after the blooms have faded.

They prefer a heavily shaded position in a drought, and frost free area. Fresh seed is sometimes used to propagate this plant, or by division in warm, and moist greenhouse conditions.

Button Orchid is a native of the state of Queensland, in tropical Australia. It lives on many types of trees but mostly paperbark trees (Melaleuca species) on rainforest borders. Sometimes it is found in association with Myrmecodia (Anthouse Plants) or other epiphytes.

Dischidia ovata

Climbing by means of clinging roots, the main stem grows about 2-metres (6-feet 6-inches) long. Pendulous stems branch out, and cling tightly to the host plant. Further, these stems have succulent leaves that are oval, and turn reddish-brown when grown in good light. When they are mature, clusters of tiny pink flowers develop. These are followed by masses of pink seed.

This drought, and frost tender plant needs a heavily shaded position. Therefor, place in a heated greenhouse or grow indoors in cold, winter climates. Propagation is by fresh seed or division. Grow this plant under the same climatic conditions as Dischidia nummularia.

Northern Queensland, Australia is the home of this plant. It grows in many situations including rainforest edges.

Dischidia pectinoides

The wiry stems of this species are thin, twining, and rooting freely. It has oblong leaves that taper at the apex, and grow 2-centimetres (3/4-inch) long, and 1-centimetre (3/8-inch) wide. Some leaves are hollow, pear-shaped, and grow to 10-centimetres (4-inches) long, opening at the base. This foliage is used as a food storage area. The whole plant is greyish-green, except the small, purplish-red flowers that appear in the leaf axils in spring.

To grow this plant successfully, place it in a warm, shady position with something to twine its branches around. The older this plant gets, the faster it produces growth.

This plant is native to the Philippines, a large group of tropical islands. In most of the island’s rain occurs mainly during the summer monsoons, from May to November.

Dischidia platyphylla

Growing to 2-metres (6-feet 6-inches) long, this climbing vine has many thin, twining branches. The leaves are opposite, and some foliage is small, greyish-green, and oval. They also have food storage leaves that are larger, and kidney shaped. Buff coloured flowers grow to 4-millimetres (1/8-inch) in diameter. These blooms are shaped like water pitchers, and occur in the leaf axils.

Fresh seed or cuttings can be used to start this plant. We must keep this species in a heated, moist greenhouse in cool climates as it is a drought, and frost tender plant.

This plant is indigenous to many Philippine Islands. It grows in rainforests, and only grows as an epiphyte.

Dischidia rafflesiana

Malayan Urn Vine

The Malayan Urn Vine grows to about 5-metres (16-feet 6-inches) long, having many wiry, and twining stems. On the stems, adventitious roots form at the leaf joints to attach it to the host plant. The leaves are opposite, starting small, and rounded, then the modified food storage leaves becoming large, pitcher-like, and hollow. However, the cavity in the leaf fills with its own roots. These leaves are fleshy, green outside, and purplish inside. In their natural habitat, ants often frequent these leaves. Flowers are yellowish, fleshy, and arranged in umbels.

Noted to grow strongly on the branches of Robinia species (Locust trees). They should grow on others such as Casuarina species (Sheoaks), and Quercus species (Oak trees).

The Malayan Urn Vine grows as an epiphyte on rainforest trees. They can be found in Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the State of Queensland, Australia.

This species is possibly synonymous with Dischidia major.

Hoya.

The tropical, and subtropical genus named Hoya are vines with thick, leathery leaves in opposite pairs, and clusters of flowers that look like someone has carved them from coloured wax. The ones listed below all grow as epiphytes, and some also as terrestrials in their natural habitats.

Never cut the flower stems off these plants, as the old flower inflorescences bloom again each year. Also, when the plants produce flower buds, do not move them or turn them around as the change of light can lead to the flower buds dropping off. Avoid the use of oil sprays on the leaves as their stomata (Breathing pores) easily clogs up causing the death of the plant.

This genus roots easily from firm stem cuttings or by layering. If grown in a pot they should have a well-drained potting mixture as the roots rot easily when they remain wet. Therefor, water sparingly during cold weather.

Hoya endauensis

By means of climbing roots, this species grows through the trees. These roots appear from the leaf nodes, but feeding from a more extensive root system that develops at the base of the plant. The leaf stalk or petiole is absent, and the succulent leaves are pressed against the host tree. These are only 2.2-centimetres (7/8-inch) across, and 2.5-centimetres (1-inch) wide. In their natural habitat, these leaves are often spotted with an orange fungus. The flowers face downwards, growing to 4 millimetres (3/16-inch) wide. Growing in umbels, each bloom has a pale green calyx blending to purple-red at the base.

They are rare in cultivation. A warm, moist position is needed, and light shade.

This Hoya is an epiphytic climber. We can find it growing on trees in the tributaries of the Ulu Endau River, Johor, Malaysia.

Hoya englerianam

We often see this species growing with pendent branches. Also, it has thin stems that may be climbing or creeping. On the upper surface, the very small foliage is convex. Each leaf is oval, and dark green in colour. In addition, waxy white flowers with purplish centres are produced in umbels, usually four blooms together.

In winter we should keep this Hoya warm, and just moist. Therefor, in cold winter climates this plant needs a heated greenhouse for protection. Nevertheless, water thoroughly in the summer.

Thailand is the natural home of this species. It lives in a moist, tropical climate influenced from April to October by the moisture laden, monsoonal winds. Most of the rain falls in the summer period, from June to October.

Hoya linearis

Identification of this species is by the very thin, almost threadlike leaves growing on pendulous stems. The flowers are whitish, and small with a distinctive scent. This species is probably the most outstanding epiphytic Hoya.

Good strong light is essential for this frost hardy species. Nevertheless, we must provide some protection from strong winds, and a little shade from the hot summer sun. The potting mixture should be well-drained, but kept just moist.

We can only find this species growing in the moist montane forests of the subtropical, Himalayas. Monsoonal winds trapped by the high mountain range feed, and water these forests.

Hoya lobbii

In private collections, this is a rare plant. Very fleshy leaves grow from 5 to 8-centimetres (2 to 31/8-inches) long on very stout branches. This species blooms with its short peduncle facing downwards, and under the foliage. From above, it makes the flowers more difficult to see. Also, they may be exquisite blood red, or yellowish flowers with a brown-red corona, depending on how much light they receive.

They need a warm, moist climate throughout the year. If the temperature cannot be kept high in winter, cut down on the water. When we grow this plant in a pot, the potting mixture must be well-drained.

This species grows only as an epiphyte in its natural home. It lives in the rainforests in the southern part of Thailand, on the Malay Peninsula.

Hoya macgillivrayi

Slender, epiphytic or terrestrial vines that climb to 8-metres (27-feet) long. This species is often a single branch or is sparsely branching. New growth is purplish-red but the leaves soon turning dark green, glossy, thick, and rigid. The maroon or maroon, and waxy white flowers are in umbels. In addition, they are fragrant, and appear mostly in early spring, but occasionally throughout the year.

We can grow this plant easily in the tropics, and warm-temperate areas or in a heated greenhouse in cold climates. Keep in good light, and a warm, moist atmosphere. The potting mixture should be well-drained, and organic.

Endemic to the north of Queensland, Australia, this species is found as a terrestrial, or as an epiphyte in open trees at the rainforest edge, or in the tops of rainforest trees.

Hoya nicholsoniae

This is a slender stemmed species that climbs with the aid of its roots. It has thick, glossy green leaves that turn coppery red or light purple. The inflorescence is a dense, compact umbel bearing up to thirty waxy, star shaped flowers with reflexed petals. Flower colours can vary from pale green to cream or pale yellow. These fragrant flowers appear from late spring to the early part of summer. Only slight frosts can be stood by this Hoya, so in a cold climate, grow in a heated greenhouse. In warm climates, this species looks attractive in the garden, on a tree, in pots or epi-logs. They grow easily in a variety of soil types. Found growing as an epiphyte from sea level to 500-metres (1,650-feet). It grows in full sun or light shade. Also, it is found growing among rocks in northeast Queensland, Australia.

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