Author: |
Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, 1830 |
Family: |
RUBIACEAE |
Origin: |
Bismarck
Archipelago, Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya,
Maluku, New Guinea, Philippines, Queensland; Australia,
Solomon Islands, Sulawesi + Sumatera; Indonesia, Thailand,
Vietnam |
Soil: |
No;
Epiphytic |
Water:
|
Medium |
Sun: |
Medium - Maximum |
Thickness: |
15
Centimetres |
Height: |
25
Centimetres |
Flower:
|
White |
Propagate: |
Seeds |
Names:
|
Ant
Plant, Ameisenknolle. |
Synonyms: |
Myrmecodia
tuberosa, Jack, 1825.
And a lot more; see below, if is M. tuberosa... |
This member of the Rubiaceae
family was given this name by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1830. It is found in
southern Asia
and north-eastern Australia,
growing on the trees on the savannah. Some water and some to lots of
sun, and it will grow to 25 centimetres in height, with a caudex on
15 centimetres. The flowers are small and white, and seeds are the
only way of reproducing.
The genera name means 'ant
head'. The specie is name for the spines.
The caudex is
hollow, and host ants. Those ants are not aggressive, and do little to
defend the plant. The might just bring nutrients to it. On the other
hand, the plant does not feed them like other Rubiaceaes.
A key
to the genera of the HYDNOPHYTTNAE is found on the
Myrmecodia alata
page. |