Previous plant

Hydnophytum simplex

Next plant

Photo by Weijen Ang.


An older plant by D. L. Nickrent, Phytoimages.siu.edu.

Author: Odoardo Beccari, 1885
Family:  RUBIACEAE
Origin:  Aru Island, New Guinea
Soil:  Epiphytic
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  15 Centimetres
Height:  35 Centimetres
Flower:  White
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Ant Plant
Synonyms:  Might be:Hydnophytum radicans, Becc. 1884. =
Hydnophytum albense, Valeton
Hydnophytum amplifolium,
S.Moore
Hydnophytum kejense,
Becc.
Hydnophytum kelelense,
Valeton
Hydnophytum montis-kani,
Valeton
Hydnophytum normale,
Becc.
Hydnophytum simplex,
Becc.
Hydnophytum subnormale,
K.Schum.

This member of the Rubiaceae family was given this name by Odoardo Beccari in 1885. It is found on Aru Island of New Guinea in the Arafura Sea, growing on the branches of the rainforest trees with quite some water and little to some sun. The caudex can grow to fifteen centimetres in diameter, the single branch up to 35 centimetres long. The flowers are white.

In my experience, the seeds should be sown within a week after opening the fresh fruit.

The genera name after Greek hydnon meaning 'tuber' and phyton meaning 'plant', after the swollen branches. the species name from its single branch.

Hydnophyttnae KEY.