Discaria

Discaria is a genus of 6 species of flowering plants in the family Rhamnaceae, native to temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere, in Australia, New Zealand and South America.

Discaria
Discaria chacaye
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Tribe:	Colletieae
Genus:	Discaria Hook.
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Chacaya Escal. Notophaena Miers Tetrapasma G.Don

They are deciduous thorny shrubs or small trees growing to 2–5 m tall. They are also non-legume nitrogen fixers.

Many of the world's Discaria species qualify as xerophytes in the true sense of the term, and the Australian species are no exception. They frequently occur on porous or well-drained sites and on soils of low fertility. Some species can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere with the help of symbiotic bacteria (Frankia) that form nodules in their roots.^[1]

Taxonomy

Species

Discaria comprises the following species:^[2][3]

• Discaria americana Gillies & Hook.
• Discaria articulata (Phil.) Miers
• Discaria chacaye (G.Don) Tortosa
• Discaria nitida Tortosa
• Discaria pubescens (Brongn.) Druce
• Discaria toumatou Raoul

Hybrids

The following hybrid has been described:^[2][3]

• Discaria × serratifolia Benth. & Hook.f. ex Mast.

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved:^[2]

• Discaria × andina (Miers) Speg.
• Discaria aphylla Meyen
• Discaria parviflora Hook.f.
• Discaria pauciflora Hook.f.
• Discaria weddeliana (Miers) Escal.