Urn leaf

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Urn leaves from Dischidia major

An urn leaf is a leaf morphosis that occurs in some epiphytic plant species of the genus Dischidia . Outwardly, the leaves resemble the pitcher leaves of pitcher plants , but have a different function. They are transformed into spacious sacks in which the plants collect substrate. Among other things, this happens through symbiosis with the ant colonies living in it ( myrmecotrophy ). The plant can sprossbürtige aerial roots grow and has become so created their own "flower pots". The plant can absorb from the feces of the ants and the air roots nutrients stomata on the inside of the ballot box leaves use the CO 2 from the respiration of the ants. The urn leaves also serve as an external reservoir for the plant.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Th. CH Cole: Dictionary of Biology / Dictionary of Biology: German / English English / German. 4th edition, Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg, 2015, ISBN 978-3-642-55327-1 , p. 290, ( preview ).
  2. ↑ H. Jessen & H. Schulze: Botany in question and answer. 15th, revised edition, M. & H. Schaper, Hannover, 2001, ISBN 3-7944-0195-6 , p. 135, ( preview ).
  3. ↑ R. Pott & J. Hüppe: Special Geobotany: Plant - Climate - Soil. Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg / New York, 2007, ISBN 978-3-540-49356-3 , p. 271, ( preview ).