Dischidia nummularia

Wild range, habitat and name

Dischidia nummularia is native from southern China through tropical Asia and the Malay Archipelago to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and northern Queensland. In the wild it grows on trees and sometimes on rock in warm, humid tropical areas.

You can find it in forests as well as coastal and limestone habitats. The name nummularia refers to the small coin-like leaves.

Growing Dischidia nummularia indoors

• Light: Bright filtered light supports close leafy growth. If you want to give the plant stronger light, increase the exposure gradually.
• Watering: Soak the roots thoroughly, let the pot drain, then wait until the airy mix has dried well. When the plant is well rooted and growing, it can cope with the mix becoming quite dry between waterings.
• Potting mix: Fine orchid bark, coconut husk and perlite or pumice make a loose mix with plenty of air around the roots.
• Warmth: Choose a warm indoor spot with steady temperatures, and protect the roots from chilling conditions and cold draughts.
• Humidity: Moderate humidity is suitable. Keep some air moving around the foliage and pot.
• Feeding: When new stems and leaves are appearing, use a weak general houseplant feed or orchid fertiliser.
• Training: Allow stems to hang, or lead them across cork or bark so roots along the stems can take hold.
• Repotting: Replace potting mix that has become compact or slow to drain.
• Propagation: New plants can be started from stem cuttings.

Common problems with Dischidia nummularia

• Leaves turn yellow and stems soften: The potting mix is staying wet for too long. Let it dry, inspect the roots, trim rotted tissue back to firm healthy growth with a clean disinfected tool, discard the affected tissue and repot into fresh airy mix.
• Round leaves become thin or wrinkled: The plant has stayed dry for too long. Water the whole pot thoroughly, let it drain and check the moisture a little sooner next time.
• New stems develop long bare gaps: Light levels are too low for compact leafy growth. Move the plant gradually into a brighter filtered position.
• Sticky foliage or clusters of small insects appear: Sap-feeding pests are the likely cause. Isolate the plant, inspect stem joints and leaf undersides, and use a houseplant treatment labelled for the pest, following the label and repeat interval.

Keep Dischidia nummularia away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

Who first published Dischidia nummularia, and what does the name mean?

Dischidia combines Greek dis, meaning twice, with schizein, meaning to split, referring to the divided lobes of the staminal corona. Nummularia comes from the Latin nummulus, “small coin,” and means coin-like.

Robert Brown established the genus Dischidia in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 461.

Robert Brown first described Dischidia nummularia in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 461.