Photo by
Derrick Rowe.
This plant was found at Sewa Bay,
Normanby Island, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Milne Bay Province,
Papua New Guinea.
The unripe fruit by
Derrick Rowe.
The caudex with entrance by
Derrick Rowe.
The inflorescense by
Derrick Rowe.
The flower by
Derrick Rowe.
|
Author: | C.R. Huxley &
M.H.P. Jebb,
1991
|
Family: |
RUBIACEAE |
Origin: |
Papua New
Guinea
|
Soil: |
No;
Epiphytic - Moss |
Water:
|
Maximum |
Sun: |
Minimum - Medium |
Thickness: |
25
Centimetres |
Height: |
50
Centimetres |
Flower:
|
White |
Propagate: |
Seeds |
Names:
|
Ant
plant |
Synonyms: |
- |
This epiphytic member of
the Rubiaceae
family was described by Camilla Rose Huxley and Matthew H. P. Jebb in 1991. It is found
in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. The hollow and rough
caudex will grow to
25 centimetres in diameter, the branches reach 50 centimetres in
length. The
flowers are white on this ant plant, while the fruits are
orange-red. The genera
name from Green anthos; 'flower' and rhiza; 'root' for
the root-derived spines around the flowers. The specific
name describes the roughened, areolate surface of the tuber, which
readily distinguishes this species.
Key to the
Species of Anthorrhiza.
1a. Spines present on stem….................................2.
1b. Spines absent on stem or very few…............... 7.
2a. Spines largely, but not exclusively confined to
the inflorescence forming a cushion in the leaf axils.
Leaves 4-10cm
wide…................... ................... 3.
2b. Spines scattered on stem. Leaves usually less
than 4cm wide….................................................
4.
3a. Inflorescence with fleshy ridges separating
flower-producing
tissue. Spines straight, usually
dense on tuber. Corolla lobes
greenish white.
Anthers cream...................
Anthorrhiza echinella.
3b. Inflorescence without ridges of tissue. Spines
gently curved, usually sparse on tuber. Corolla
white. Anthers bl........Anthorrhiza recurvispina.
4a. Lamina less than 8cm long, stipules persistent,
rounded….........................
Anthorrhiza stevensii.
4b. Lamina more than 10cm long, stipules caducous
(easily shed),
triangular or rounded…............... 5.
5a. Stem dorsiventral, (flattened + distinct upper
and lower
surfaces) more spines on upper side,
spines light brown to
blackish. Leaf margin
crinkled. Corolla blue….....
Anthorrhiza caerulea.
Camilla
Rose Huxley & Matthew H. P. Jebb in 1991. Papau New Guinea, 15
centimetres in diameter. One or rarely two, unbranded stems. Pale
blue/turquoise flowers. Fruits orange.
5b. Stem radially symmetrical, rarely dorsiventral.
Spines
golden brown. Leaf margin flat. Corolla
white to greenish
white........................................ 6.
6a. Inflorescence bracts leathery, splitting regularly,
apiculate, persistent. Petals with long slender
lobe tips…..............
Anthorrhiza
chrysacantha.
6b. Inflorescence bracts papery, tearing irregularly,
not apiculate, caducous (easily shed.) Petals
acute-rounded…..................
Anthorrhiza camilla.
7a. Inflorescence covered by leathery and
papery bracts. Fruit
with 4-8
pyrenes...........................
Anthorrhiza bracteosa.
7b. Inflorescence sunken or covered by a dense
cushion of bract
hairs. Fruit with 2 pyrenes….....8.
8a. Tuber surface smooth. Leaves to
17x7cm. Inflorescence
narrowly cordate
in outline…............................. Anthorrhiza mitis.
Camilla Rose Huxley & Matthew H. P. Jebb in 1991. Papau New
Guinea. Diameter 30 centimetres, height of caudex 26 centimetres
Total?. Several unbranched stems. Flowers whit, fruits orange-red.
8b. Tuber surface areolate (roughened by
areolae). Leaves to
11x4cm. Inflorescence
arch-shaped in outline.......
Anthorrhiza
areolata. A key
to the genera of the HYDNOPHYTTNAE is found on the
Myrmecodia alata
page. |