Dalechampia triphylla

Dalechampia triphylla is a vine in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to tropical South America.[1]

Dalechampia triphylla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Dalechampia
Species:
D. triphylla
Binomial name
Dalechampia triphylla
Lam.

Ecology

Dalechampia triphylla is the food plant of the larvae of several species of "cracker" butterflies. Hamadryas feronia and Hamadryas iphthime both feed on the leaves. These butterflies are shades of grey, brown and white, and are well camouflaged when they exhibit their characteristic behaviour and rest on tree trunks.[2] The larvae of Hamadryas laodamia also feed on the leaves, but this butterfly is black with iridescent blue markings; the adult is avoided by predators such as jacamars, and the larvae appear to sequester distasteful toxic compounds present in the plant.[3]

References

  1. "Dalechampia triphylla Lam". The Plant List. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. Scott, James A. (1992). The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide. Stanford University Press. pp. 268–270. ISBN 978-0-8047-2013-7.
  3. Henderson, Carrol L. (2002). Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica. University of Texas Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-292-73459-3.
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