Dischidia major – The crow’s beak vine
Dischidia major is a is a species of parasitic vine in the family Apocynaceae native to tropical Asia. Dischidia are epiphytes native to tropical areas of China, India and most areas of Indo-China. Dischidia major has modified leaves, offering accommodation to ants. Its fruits are often used to make crow’s beak wine.
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Genus: Dischidia
- Species: Dischidia major
- Synonyms: Collyris major Vahl, Dischidia rafflesiana Wal
- English names: rattle skulls, Malayan urn vine, crow’s beak vine
- Vietnamese names: dây mỏ quạ (crow’s beak vine), dây tổ kiến (ant colony vine)
Culinary uses
Apart from the medicinal wine made from the rattle skulls, in rent years, some parts of Dischidia major vines are used as vegetables. Its fruits can be stuffed with minced meat and some other ingredients and then get slow-cooked or steamed. Both flowers and fruits can used in stir fry dishes or in soups.
The flowers of Dischidia major vine can also serves as a hot pot vegetable.
Crab hotpot ingredients including Dischidia major flowers
