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Myrmecodia armata

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Found this plant at Kakteen Haage.


A plant from Universität Göttingen.

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.

Synonyms:
Lasiostoma tuberosum (Jack) Spreng.
Myrmecodia amboinensis Becc.
Myrmecodia apoensis Elmer
Myrmecodia armata DC.
Myrmecodia bullosa Becc.
Myrmecodia dahlii K.Schum.
Myrmecodia echinata F.Muell.
Myrmecodia echinata Gaudich.
Myrmecodia goramensis Becc.
Myrmecodia hispida A.Rich.
Myrmecodia inermis DC.
Myrmecodia kandariensis Becc.
Myrmecodia lanceolata Valeton
Myrmecodia menadensis Becc.
Myrmecodia muelleri Becc.
Myrmecodia oninensis Becc.
Myrmecodia paucispina Valeton
Myrmecodia peekelii Valeton
Myrmecodia pentasperma K.Schum.
Myrmecodia pulvinata Becc.
Myrmecodia rumphii Becc.
Myrmecodia salomonensis Becc.
Myrmecodia sibuyanensis Elmer
Myrmecodia sorsogonensis Elmer
Myrmecodia tuberosa Becc. ex Treub
Myrmecodia urdanetensis Elmer
Myrmecodia vivipara Warb.