''Dorstenia indica'' is a small plant species in the family ''
Moraceae
Moraceae is a family of flowering plants comprising about 48 genera and over 1100 species, and is commonly known as the mulberry or fig family. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates; however, their ...
'' native to Southern India and Sri Lanka. It was first described by
Robert Wight
Robert Wight (6 July 1796 – 26 May 1872) was a Scottish surgeon in the East India Company, whose professional career was spent entirely in southern India, where his greatest achievements were in botany – as an economic botanist and leading ...
in 1853.
''Dorstenia indica'' is the only representative of the genus ''Dorstenia'' that grows east of Arabia and in the tropical forests of Southern Asia. It belongs to the same complex as ''Dorstenia radiata'' from Arabia, ''
Dorstenia gigas'' from Socotra, and West African species such as ''Dorstenia asteriscus''.
Description
Herb, tufted, 7.5 to 45 cm high. Stems fleshy, sparsely hairy, tapering, curved ascending, unbranched but proliferating from the base. Procumbent, ascending after rooting. Latex white. Leaves alternate, to 9 x 2.5 cm, obovate or oblanceolate, acute, base attenuate or cuneate, membranous, distantly toothed, sparsely hirsute along the nerves beneath, nerves 8-13 pairs; petiole 1 cm long. Inflorescence axillary, solitary. Flowers numerous, arranged on a simple or lobed androgynous receptacle. Receptacle axillary, solitary, discoid, 5-angled, to 1.5 cm across, marginal lobes to 0.5 cm long; peduncles to 2 cm long. Male flowers, numerous, towards the periphery of the receptacle. Very small, 0.5 mm high. Perianth with two slight lobes, connate and adnate with receptacle; stamens 1-2 (-3). Female flowers are grouped at the centre and open before male flowers. Ovary sunken in the tissue of the receptacle; style lateral. Perianth vaguely 2 lobed; mouth almost closed. Ovule pendulous, style lateral. The fruit is a crustaceous achene, sunken, 2 mm.
As with other ''Dorstenia'' species, the seeds are probably dispersed by exploding fruits.
Habitat
Grows on rocks and tree trunks in moist and shady habitats in deciduous and evergreen forests.
Distribution
The distribution of ''Dorstenia indica'' is confined to the hills and mountains of Southern India and Sri Lanka. In India it grows in the
Western Ghats, with Nashik in
Maharashtra
Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
as northernmost limit. In Sri Lanka it has been recorded from the hill and mountain region in the center of the country, from 200 to 2000 meters altitude.
[India Biodiversity Portal, �]
Dorstenia indica Wight
��. Retrieved 12.10.2017.
Pictures
Image: Dorstenia indica Sri Lanka 01.jpg, Flower structure.
Image: Dorstenia indica SL 08.jpg, Close up of flower structure with flowers (male flowers are white, female green).
Image: Dorstenia indica Sri Lanka 03.jpg, Mature flower structure with fruits.
Image: Dorstenia indica Sri Lanka 02.jpg, Flower structure and leaves.
Image: Dorstenia indica SL 07.jpg, Leaves.
Image: Dorstenia indica Sri Lanka 04.jpg, Stem and flower structure .
Image: Dorstenia indica Sri Lanka 06.jpg, Clump growing between the roots of a Ficus on a granite cliff in a hill forest in central Sri Lanka.
Image: Dorstenia indica Sri Lanka 05.jpg, Clump growing between roots of a Ficus on a cliff.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15471598
indica
Plants described in 1853
Flora of India (region)
Flora of Sri Lanka