{"product_id":"hydnophytum-sp-flat-caudex","title":"Hydnophytum sp. 'Flat Caudex'","description":"This previously undescribed, small ant plant likely originates from Malaysia or Indonesia. Unfortunately, we have no more precise information about its provenance. It is a very small \u003cem\u003eHydnophytum\u003c\/em\u003e species. The caudex remains very flat and resembles a fried egg. Raised sections extend from the center to the edge, with holes at their ends. Otherwise, the caudex is smooth. In very old plants, it becomes very dark, almost black. It remains even flatter than that of the similar \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/produkt\/hydnophytum-sp-malaysia-peninsula\/\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHydnophytum sp.\u003c\/em\u003e Malaysia, Peninsula\u003c\/a\u003e . It reaches a height of only 1 to 2 centimeters and a diameter of approximately 7 to 10 centimeters. The leaves also remain small, growing to about 3 to 6 centimeters long and 2 to 3 centimeters wide. The branches spread horizontally and never grow upright.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eDue to its small final size and compact growth, it is an ideal terrarium plant for anyone who wants to acquire a truly bizarre rarity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [porto_content_box border_top_color=\"#1e764d\" border_radius=\"2\" border_top_width=\"2\" align=\"left\"]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [expand Title=\" \u003cstrong\u003eAbout Ant Plants\u003c\/strong\u003e \"]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eHydnophytum\u003c\/em\u003e are so-called \"ant plants\" from the Rubiaceae family. They are widespread from Southeast Asia to Australia and from Papua to the Solomon Islands, and usually grow epiphytically on trees. They belong to the myrmecodomen ant plants, meaning they provide nesting sites for ants. Their thickened stem, also called a \"caudex,\" is riddled with numerous tunnels and chambers inhabited by specialized ants, mostly from the genus \u003cem\u003ePhilidris\u003c\/em\u003e . The ants do not create the chambers or the entrances themselves; these are formed solely by the plant, regardless of whether ants are present or not.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe plant has a mutually beneficial relationship with the ants that live in it. The ants protect the plant and their nest, and fertilize it with leftover food, droppings, and other waste. The plant contains several different types of chambers: some with smooth walls and others with warty walls. The warty chambers, in particular, are specially adapted for absorbing nutrients. The ants use the smooth chambers for nesting and the warty chambers as a waste disposal site, thus supplying the plant with nutrients. In some highly specialized ant-inhabiting plants, the ants even pollinate the flowers and plant the seedlings!\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOver many years, the colonies of ants and ant-attracting plants spread across a tree, and other epiphytes associated with ants, such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/?s=hoya\u0026amp;post_type=product\u0026amp;product_cat=0\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoya\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e , \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/?s=dischidia\u0026amp;post_type=product\u0026amp;product_cat=0\"\u003eDischidia\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e , \u003cem\u003eLecanopteris\u003c\/em\u003e , and orchids, also join them. A so-called \" \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ant_garden\"\u003eant garden\u003c\/a\u003e \" is created.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not every ant-friendly plant is actually inhabited by ants in nature. In fact, there are numerous species where ants have never been detected! This also means that no ant-friendly plant necessarily needs an ant colony to survive or thrive. All of our cultivated ant-friendly plants are, of course, ant-free! The caudex forms exactly the same way as it does in nature, even without ants.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [\/expand]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [\/porto_content_box]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eYou will receive a young plant in a 5.5cm pot (see picture 3 in the gallery).","brand":"Jungle Leaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56319481872761,"sku":"Hydno006","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0951\/8389\/6953\/files\/Hydnophytum-sp.-Flat-Caudex-02.jpg?v=1764922153","url":"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/en\/products\/hydnophytum-sp-flat-caudex","provider":"Jungle Leaves","version":"1.0","type":"link"}