Author: |
Joseph Dalton Hooker, 1870 |
Family: |
MELASTOMATACEAE |
Origin: |
Northern
Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru |
Soil: |
Mix
- Epiphytic |
Water:
|
Medium - Maximum |
Sun: |
Medium |
Thickness: |
20 Centimetres |
Height: |
30
Centimetres |
Flower:
|
White - Pale Pink |
Propagate: |
Seeds |
Names:
|
Ant Plant |
Synonyms: |
Bertolonia primuliflora, Dombrain,
1870.
Monolena
primulaeflora, Hooker, 1870!? |
This member of the Melastomataceae family was
described by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1870. It's found in
northern Brazil, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Ecuador, Panama
and Peru, growing in a
well-drained soil or as an epiphyte with quite some water and sun. The flowers are white to pale
pink, and it
can only be reproduced by seeds.
The genera name from Latin: mono;
'single' and lena; 'seductress' for the single stylus. The
species name means 'having flowers like a Primula (primrose).
Frank Omilian has this tip: Sprout
the seeds on long fibre sphagnum, kept moist.
This is one of the ant plants.
There are members in the
Apocynaceae, Fabaceae, Melastomataceae, Orchidaceae, Polypodiaceae and
Rubiaceae families. I actually got an ants nest in one of my plants.
Newer had it before in any plants, but it might be a coincident. Photos
in the bottom of the page.
Some claims this plant needs
temperatures over 25 C, but mine are doing fine with 20 C.
|