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
|