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Myrmephytum beccarii

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Photo from: Pinoy Plants.


A wild plant by M. Fagg, Anbg.gov.au.


I found this one in a Swedish botanical garden, but it does fare from look right to me. Might be the lack of light?

Author:  Adolph Daniel Edward Elmer, 1911
Family:  RUBIACEAE
Origin:  Philippines
Soil:  Peat - Epiphytic
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Minimum - Medium
Thickness:  10 Centimetres
Height:  35 Centimetres
Flower:  White - Pale Blue
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Ant plant
Synonyms:  Myrmendoma arfakiana, Beccari, 1884

This epiphytic or terrestrial member of the Rubiaceae family was given this name by Adolph Daniel Edward Elmer in 1911. It is found in Sibuyan Island, the Philippines, growing in the trees as an epiphyte, but also on the ground. The "hairy" caudex can grow to ten centimetres in diameter, the branches up to 35 centimetres. The flowers are from white to pale blue.

The genera name from Latin Myrme; 'ant' and Latin -phyto; 'plant'. The species name in honour of Odoardo Beccari (1843-1920), an Italian botanist, specialised in palms, but also the author of i.e. Myrmecodia jobiensis, Hydnophytum moseleyanum, Hydnophytum simplex, Squamellaria imberbis and Myrmecodia platytyrea.

A key to the genera of the HYDNOPHYTTNAE is found on the Myrmecodia alata page.


Photo from: Pinoy Plants.