Myrmecodia tuberosa Jack
- Common Name: Ant Plant
- Family: Rubiaceae Juss.
- Country of Origin: Borneo - Bako National Park
- 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
- Culture: See Plummer, N., Cultivation of the epiphytic ant-plants Hydnophytum and Myrmecodia, Cactus and Succulent Journal 72:142-147 (2000)
Accession Data:
- Accession # 199900291
- Source: Nick Plummer - Duke
- Accession Date: 09-16-1999
- Bench: 4104 - EPI: East Rack B
- Currently: active - healthy
- Qty: 1 confirmed on 10-31-2024
Classification:
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- SubClass: euasterid I
- Order: Gentianales
- SubOrder:
- Family: Rubiaceae
- SubFamily: Rubioideae
- Tribe: Psychotrieae
- SubTribe: Hydnophytinae
Flowering Data:
This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
2024 |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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2019 |
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2018 |
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2017 |
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2016 |
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2015 |
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2014 |
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2013 |
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2012 |
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2011 |
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References (internal):
References (external):
- Myrmecodia at Wikipedia. Accessed 2 June 2015.
- The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 2 June 2015.
- WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 2 June 2015.
data regenerated on Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:42:05 -0400 [bcm v4.0]