Dorstenia: A Collector’s Obsession
My name is Ferb Vu, and I’m a plant enthusiast with a particular fascination for the genus Dorstenia. These unique plants, belonging to the Moraceae family (the same family as figs and mulberries), have captured my attention with their incredible diversity and intriguing biology.
What Makes Dorstenia Special?
Unlike their more famous relatives, Dorstenia species are often overlooked. But for those in the know, they offer a world of wonder. They are defined by their unusual inflorescence, a structure that looks more like a bizarre, flattened disc than a typical flower. These disc-like structures, known as hypanthodia, are actually clusters of tiny flowers. They come in a mind-boggling array of shapes and sizes, from smooth and circular to those with elaborate, tentacle-like appendages.
But it’s not just their appearance that makes Dorstenia fascinating. Their pollination strategy is equally intriguing. These plants employ a unique method called “explosive pollination.” When the flowers mature, they release pollen with surprising force, catapulting it into the air to be carried by the wind.
Diversity in the Dorstenia Genus
The genus Dorstenia boasts a remarkable diversity, with over 100 recognized species. These species exhibit a wide range of growth habits, from small annuals to woody shrubs and even succulents. They are found in a variety of habitats, primarily in the tropics of Africa, South America, and Madagascar.
- Dorstenia acangatara M.D.M.Vianna, Al.Santos, A.F.P.Machado, Mansano & Romaniuc
- Dorstenia africana (Baill.) C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia afromontana R.E.Fr.
- Dorstenia albertii Carauta, C.Valente & Sucre
- Dorstenia annua Friis & Vollesen
- Dorstenia appendiculata Miq.
- Dorstenia arachniformis Matheka, Malombe, T.Mwadime & Mwachala
- Dorstenia arifolia Lam.
- Dorstenia aristeguietae Cuatrec.
- Dorstenia astyanactis Aké Assi
- Dorstenia bahiensis Klotzsch ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Dorstenia barnimiana Schweinf.
- Dorstenia barteri Bureau
- Dorstenia belizensis C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia benguellensis Welw.
- Dorstenia bergiana Hijman
- Dorstenia bicaudata Peter
- Dorstenia bonijesu Carauta & C.Valente
- Dorstenia bowmanniana Baker
- Dorstenia brasiliensis Lam.
- Dorstenia brevipetiolata C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia brownii Rendle
- Dorstenia buchananii Engl.
- Dorstenia caatingae R.M.Castro
- Dorstenia caimitensis Urb.
- Dorstenia carautae C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia cayapia Vell.
- Dorstenia choconiana S.Watson
- Dorstenia christenhuszii M.W.Chase & M.F.Fay
- Dorstenia ciliata Engl.
- Dorstenia colombiana Cuatrec.
- Dorstenia conceptionis Carauta
- Dorstenia contensis Carauta & C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia contrajerva L.
- Dorstenia convexa De Wild.
- Dorstenia crenulata C.Wright ex Griseb.
- Dorstenia cuspidata Hochst.
- Dorstenia dinklagei Engl.
- Dorstenia dionga Engl.
- Dorstenia djettii Guillaumet
- Dorstenia dorstenioides (Engl.) Hijman & C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia drakena L.
- Dorstenia elata Gardner
- Dorstenia ellenbeckiana Engl.
- Dorstenia elliptica Bureau
- Dorstenia embergeri Mangenot
- Dorstenia erythrandra C.Wright ex Griseb.
- Dorstenia excentrica Moric.
- Dorstenia fawcettii Urb.
- Dorstenia flagellifera Urb. & Ekman
- Dorstenia foetida Schweinf.
- Dorstenia gigas Schweinf. ex Balf.f.
- Dorstenia goetzei Engl.
- Dorstenia grazielae Carauta, C.Valente & Sucre
- Dorstenia gypsophila Lavranos
- Dorstenia hildebrandtii Engl.
- Dorstenia hildegardis Carauta, C.Valente & O.M.Barth
- Dorstenia hirta Desv.
- Dorstenia holstii Engl.
- Dorstenia horwoodii Rzepecky
- Dorstenia indica Wight
- Dorstenia involuta Hijman & C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia jamaicensis Britton
- Dorstenia kameruniana Engl.
- Dorstenia lanei R.A.Howard & W.R.Briggs
- Dorstenia lavrani T.A.McCoy & M.Massara
- Dorstenia letestui Pellegr.
- Dorstenia lindeniana Bureau
- Dorstenia luamensis M.E.Leal
- Dorstenia lujae De Wild.
- Dorstenia mannii Hook.f.
- Dorstenia mariae Carauta, J.M.Albuq. & R.M.Castro
- Dorstenia marijan-matokii Eb.Fisch. & Killmann
- Dorstenia milaneziana Carauta, C.Valente & Sucre
- Dorstenia nummularia Urb. & Ekman
- Dorstenia nyungwensis Troupin
- Dorstenia oligogyna (Pellegr.) C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia panamensis C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia paucibracteata De Wild.
- Dorstenia peltata Spreng.
- Dorstenia peruviana C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia petraea C.Wright ex Griseb.
- Dorstenia picta Bureau
- Dorstenia poinsettiifolia Engl.
- Dorstenia prorepens Engl.
- Dorstenia psilurus Welw.
- Dorstenia ramosa (Desv.) Carauta, C.Valente & Sucre
- Dorstenia renulata C.Wright ex Griseb.
- Dorstenia richardii Baill.
- Dorstenia rocana Britton
- Dorstenia roigii Britton
- Dorstenia romaniucii A.F.P.Machado & M.D.M.Vianna
- Dorstenia schliebenii Mildbr.
- Dorstenia setosa Moric.
- Dorstenia socotrana A.G.Mill.
- Dorstenia soerensenii Friis
- Dorstenia solheidii De Wild.
- Dorstenia stellaris Al.Santos & Romaniuc
- Dorstenia subdentata Hijman & C.C.Berg
- Dorstenia subrhombiformis Engl.
- Dorstenia tayloriana Rendle
- Dorstenia tenera Bureau
- Dorstenia tentaculata Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Dorstenia tenuiradiata Mildbr.
- Dorstenia tenuis Bonpl. ex Bureau
- Dorstenia tessmannii Engl.
- Dorstenia thikaensis Hijman
- Dorstenia triseriata A.F.P.Machado, Fontella & Carauta
- Dorstenia tuberosa C.Wright ex Griseb.
- Dorstenia turnerifolia Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Dorstenia ulugurensis Engl.
- Dorstenia umbricola A.C.Sm.
- Dorstenia urceolata Schott
- Dorstenia uxpanapana C.C.Berg & T.Wendt
- Dorstenia variifolia Engl.
- Dorstenia vivipara Welw.
- Dorstenia warneckei Engl.
- Dorstenia yambuyaensis De Wild.
- Dorstenia yangambiensis J.Léonard
- Dorstenia zambesiaca Hijman
- Dorstenia zanzibarica Oliv.
- Dorstenia zenkeri Engl.
My Dorstenia Collection
As a collector, I’m constantly seeking out new and interesting Dorstenia species to add to my collection. I’m particularly drawn to those with unusual inflorescences or growth habits. I currently have around 20 different species in my collection, and I’m always on the lookout for more.
One of my favorite aspects of collecting Dorstenia is the challenge of propagation. These plants can be propagated from seed, cuttings, or offsets. However, each species has its own unique requirements, and it can take some experimentation to find the best method.
The Future of Dorstenia
I believe that Dorstenia has the potential to become much more popular among plant enthusiasts. These plants are relatively easy to care for, and they offer a unique and rewarding experience for collectors. I hope that more people will discover the beauty and diversity of this fascinating genus.
