{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Discaria chacaye 2.jpg |image_caption = ''Discaria chacaye'' |taxon = Discaria |authority = Hook. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See text. |synonyms = * ''Chacaya'' <small>Escal.</small> * ''Notophaena'' <small>Miers</small> * ''Tetrapasma'' <small>G.Don</small> }}
'''''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.
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://anpsa.org.au/APOL2009/mar09-2.html|title=The rare and remarkable species of Australian Discaria|website=anpsa.org.au|access-date=2016-12-02}}</ref>
==Taxonomy== ===Species=== ''Discaria'' comprises the following species:<ref name="PlantList">{{cite web | url = http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Rhamnaceae/Discaria/ | title = The Plant List entry for ''Discaria'' | date = September 2013 | website = The Plant List, v.1.1 | publisher = Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden | access-date = 14 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="POWO">{{cite web | url = https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:33437-1 | author=Govaerts R | website = Plants of the World Online | title = ''Discaria'' Hook. | publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | access-date = 14 December 2020}}</ref> * ''Discaria americana'' <small>Gillies & Hook.</small> * ''Discaria articulata'' <small>(Phil.) Miers</small> <!-- Discaria australis was reclassified as Discaria pubescens. --> * ''Discaria chacaye'' <small>(G.Don) Tortosa</small> <!-- Discaria cognata was reclassified as Discaria chacaye. --> <!-- Discaria crenata was reclassified as Discaria chacaye. --> <!-- Discaria dumosa was reclassified as Discaria chacaye. --> <!-- Discaria exilis was reclassified as Discaria americana. --> <!-- Discaria febrifuga was reclassified as Discaria americana. --> <!-- Discaria foliosa was reclassified as Discaria chacaye. --> <!-- Discaria gracilenta was reclassified as Discaria americana. --> <!-- Discaria integrifolia was reclassified as Discaria chacaye. --> <!-- Discaria longispina was reclassified as Discaria americana. --> <!-- Discaria lycioides was reclassified as Discaria americana. --> <!-- Discaria nana was reclassified as Ochetophila nana --> * ''Discaria nitida'' <small>Tortosa</small> * ''Discaria pubescens'' <small>(Brongn.) Druce</small> <!-- Discaria spiculata was reclassified as Discaria americana. --> * ''Discaria toumatou'' <small>Raoul</small> <!-- Discaria trinervis was reclassified as Ochetophila trinervis. -->
===Hybrids=== The following hybrid has been described:<ref name="PlantList"/><ref name="POWO"/> * ''Discaria'' × ''serratifolia'' <small>Benth. & Hook.f. ex Mast.</small>
===Species names with uncertain taxonomic status=== The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved:<ref name="PlantList"/> * ''Discaria'' × ''andina'' <small>(Miers) Speg.</small> * ''Discaria aphylla'' <small>Meyen</small> * ''Discaria parviflora'' <small>Hook.f.</small> * ''Discaria pauciflora'' <small>Hook.f.</small> * ''Discaria weddeliana'' <small>(Miers) Escal.</small>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5281423}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Discaria Category:Rhamnaceae genera
{{Rhamnaceae-stub}}