RubiaceaeSubfamily Cinchonoideae
Tribe Cinchoneae
Subfamily Cinchonoideae
Tribe Exostemma group
Subfamily Cinchonoideae
Tribe Mussaendeae
Subfamily Cinchonoideae
Tribe Naucleeae
Subfamily Cinchonoideae
Tribe Rondeletieae
Subfamily Ixoroideae
Subfamily Ixoroideae
Tribe Coffeeae
Subfamily Ixoroideae
Tribe Gardenieae
Subfamily Ixoroideae
Tribe Ixoreae
Subfamily Ixoroideae
Tribe Posoquerieae
Subfamily Rubioideae
Tribe Coussareeae
Subfamily Rubioideae
Tribe Hedyotideae
Subfamily Rubioideae
Tribe Psychotrieae
W/C = Wild Collected |
Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc.
- Common Name:
- Family: Rubiaceae Juss.
- Country of Origin: New Guinea
- Habitat: rainforest epiphyte
- Description: Plants form a symbiotic relationship with ants and fungi. Ant plants provide habitats for ant colonies high up into the forest canopy, protecting them from the elements and also predators because of the spines. Hollow, smooth-walled tunnels form within the caudex with external entrance holes, providing an above-ground home for ant colonies. Ants likewise provide defense for the plant and prevent tissue damage. Ant colonies also provide nutrients to the plants by leaving wastes within the tunnels inside the caudex. Special glands lining the tunnels then absorb nutriment for the plant. This symbiosis allows the plants to effectively gather nutrients (via the ants) from a much larger area than the roots ever could cover.2
Images of this accession: {and/or its current location} Click on thumbnails to enlarge 
Accession Data:- Accession # 198500653
- Source: SCE/NYBG
- Provenance: specific epithet corrected from platyrea to platytyrea - CMORSE
- Accession Date: 12-31-1985
- Bench: 4103 - EPI:East Ant Plants
- Qty: 2 confirmed on 09-24-2012
Classification:- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- SubClass: euasterid I
- Order: Gentianales
- SubOrder:
- Family: Rubiaceae
- SubFamily: Rubioideae
- Tribe: Psychotrieae
- SubTribe: Hydnophytinae
References:
- Plummer, N., Cultivation of the epiphytic ant-plants Hydnophytum and Myrmecodia, Cactus and Succulent Journal 72:142-147 (2000)
- Wikipedia
page generated on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:56:46 -0500
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