| Author: |
Odoardo Beccari,
1884 |
| Family: |
RUBIACEAE |
| Origin: |
Papua
New Guinea, Queensland; Northern Australia |
| Soil: |
No;
Epiphytic |
| Water:
|
Maximum |
| Sun: |
Minimum |
| Thickness: |
20
Centimetres |
| Height: |
30
Centimetres |
| Flower:
|
White |
| Propagate: |
Seeds |
| Names:
|
Ant
Plant |
| Synonyms: |
Myrmecodia
antoinii*, Beccari, 1884.
Myrmecodia platytyrea subsp. antoinii, Huxley
& Jebb. |
This member of the Rubiaceae
family was described by Odoardo Beccari in 1884. It is found in the rainforests
of Papua New Guinea and Cape York, Australia. It is an epiphyte,
needs lots of water but not much sun. The caudex will grow to 20 centimetres in diameter, the stems can reach for
30 centimetres. The
flowers are white (15 or 16 mm long), and the plant can only be reproduced by
seeds.
The genera name means 'ant
head'. The species name from Grek platys; 'flat', and
probably Greek tyros; 'cheese', perhaps for the tuber. It was
introduced by
Odoardo Beccari in
Malesia Raccolta ... 2: 115. 1884 - which I fail to understand
(Italian?).
*)Myrmecodia
antoinii, Beccari 1884, has been moved to a subspecies of Myrmecodia platytyrea
by Huxley & Jebb in 1993.
SubFamily: Rubioideae
Tribe: Psychotrieae
SubTribe: Hydnophytinae
A key
to the genera of the HYDNOPHYTTNAE is found on the
Myrmecodia alata
page. |
