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Myrmecodia echinata

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Author: Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré, 1830
Family:  RUBIACEAE
Origin:  Malaysia
Soil:  No, Epiphytic
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Minimum
Thickness:  16-25 Centimetres
Height:  50-75 Centimetres
Flower:  White
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Ant Plant
Synonyms:  Might be a synonym of: Myrmecodia tuberosa, William Jack, 1823.
If that is the case; see that page...

This member of the Rubiaceae family was described by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré in 1830 - unless it is by Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller in 1877 - or Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel in 1857/1869 - or Franz Antoine in 1882. It is found in the rainforests of Malaysia. It is an epiphyte, needs lots of water but not much sun. The caudex will grow to 16-25 centimetres in diameter, the stems can reach for 50-75 centimetres. The tiny flowers are white, and the plant can only be reproduced by seeds.

The genera name means 'ant head'. The species name for the spines the caudex is covered in.

The caudex is hollow, and host ants. Those ants isn't aggressive, and do little to defend the plant. The might just bring nutrients to it. On the other hand, the plant does not feed them like other Rubiaceaes.

A key to the genera of the HYDNOPHYTTNAE is found on the Myrmecodia alata page.

SubFamily: Rubioideae
Tribe: Psychotrieae
SubTribe: Hydnophytinae


These were tagged Myrmecodia echinata in Kiel BG.