Description
Dillenia indica Variegated
Scientific name / local name : Variegated Dillenia / Elephant apple
Origin : This mutant was found in Thailand
Flower colour : white/green
Soil : well drained
sun/shade : semi shade
watering : moderate to plenty
Hardiness/ temp. ( C) : minimum 15C
Height : 800cm
Overall information : This is a new Thai Hybrid of the Dillenia tree. All plants are grafted.
Dillenia indica produces a large hard fruit which is accessible only to the megaherbivores. An interesting study in the Buxa Tiger Reserve by ecologists Sekar & Sukumar has shown that Asian elephants appear to have a particular fondness for the fruits of D. indica, and hence an important seed dispenser for this tree. With the prospects of extinction of the elephants this tree has developed a back-up system, whereby its hard fruits that were only accessible to megaherbivores, slowly soften on the forest floor through the dry season to allow access to successively smaller animals such as macaques, rodents and squirrels. Seeds from both old and soft fruits are able to germinate well, enabling the persistence of this tree to be independent of the survival of its major megaherbivore disperser.
.. One package contains 1 plant. We ship only healthy (in pot) growing plants. We carefully remove the soil. After that, we wrap the plant in newspaper and then in a strong cardboard box with Thai registered airmail. EMS is also possible but prices are on request.
More pictures can be found on our company face book page here ;
https://www.facebook.com/Asian.seeds.tubers.plants
https://www.facebook.com/Thailandguidedplantstour/
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