''Dischidia vidalii'', commonly known as an "ant plant" or "

kangaroo Kangaroos are four marsupials from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning "large foot"). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the red kangaroo, as well as the antilopine kangaroo, eastern gre ...

pouch", is a plant in the genus ''

Dischidia ''Dischidia'' is a genus of plants in the “dog-bane” family Apocynaceae, collectively known as the “milkweeds” (true perennial milkweeds in the ''Apocynaceae'' are found in the genus ''Asclepias''). They are epiphytes, native to tropical ...

'' native to the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. ''D. vidalii'' is an epiphytic climbing plant with clusters of pink or magenta flowers. Like some others in its genus like ''

Dischidia major ''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 d ...

'' and in the related genus '' Hoya'', this species has evolved a symbiotic relationship with ants. In addition to small, oval leaves the plant develops significantly larger, hollow leaves where additional roots grow and there is habitat for ants where water and debris collect that nourish the roots.

References

Dischidia Endemic flora of the Philippines Plants described in 1886 {{Apocynaceae-stub