What is an "ant plant"?
Myrmecodiae is a general term for plants that have a symbiotic relationship with ants. They are found mainly in tropical regions. They form cavities called domatia in their roots and stems, which provide homes for ants and other insects, providing them with benefits such as protection from pests and a supply of organic matter. Five genera of the Rubiaceae family, including Myrmecodia and Hydnophytum, are called "ant plants."
Myrmecodia archiboldiana
This ant-shaped plant grows in Indonesian New Guinea, hanging from a single thick root. It did not fall off by chance; it grows naturally in this form. Its long leaves and the tendency of the upper part of its tuber to swell cause it to lean from the base and gradually fall off.
Hydnophytum unknown species
This is a ant-damask plant in West Papua, Indonesia, whose tubers grow in an amoeba-like pattern. It is thought to be a regional variation of H. kebarense, but this is unknown. Even among ant-damask plants that appear to be the same species, there is a gradation of regional characteristics.
