Vincetoxicum nakaianum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Vincetoxicum nakaianum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| V. nakaianum whole plant | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Vincetoxicum |
| Species: | V. nakaianum |
| Binomial name | |
| Vincetoxicum nakaianum K.Mochizuki & Ohi-Toma | |
Vincetoxicum nakaianum (Japanese tachi-gashiwa) is a species of dogbane in the family Apocynaceae that is native to Japan.[1] Originally discovered in 1937 by Takenoshin Nakai but incorrectly as Cynanchum magnificum, it was rediscovered and described in 2024 by Ko Mochizuki and Tetsuo Ohi-Toma.[2] In 2025, it was discovered that the plant a scent that smells like dying ants – a strategy it uses for attracting flies for its pollination. It is the first plant known to specifically mimic ant odour for reproduction.[3]
