{"product_id":"myrmecodia-tuberosa","title":"Myrmecodia tuberosa","description":"\u003cem\u003eMyrmecodia tuberosa\u003c\/em\u003e is an ant plant with a very large distribution area. It occurs from Southeast Asia to Australia and from Papua to the Solomon Islands. The different populations within its range vary considerably. There are forms with a smooth caudex, those with warts and spines, those with bizarre arrangements of holes, and even forms that have no visible entrances for ants at all. Because of this great diversity, it is difficult to classify taxonomically. Some authors consider the different forms to be separate species or subspecies.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe form offered here (as seen in the pictures of the mature plant) develops a spiny caudex with simple spines arranged in loose rows. Mature plants also feature regular bumps on the caudex, along the edges of which are entrances for ants. \u003cem\u003eMyrmecodia tuberosa\u003c\/em\u003e is an epiphyte and only grows upright as a young plant. In nature, the elongated caudex is horizontal or hanging, and the plant should be supported in this position to ensure good growth.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAs is typical for \u003cem\u003eMyrmecodia,\u003c\/em\u003e the plant usually has only one main stem, which grows longer and thicker but branches little or not at all. The shield-shaped structures on the stem are striking. These are called clypeoli. They often have spines or hairs along their edges. The leaves, up to 40 cm long and about 15 cm wide, grow from the front end of the clypeoli. The flowers emerge from the alveoli between the clypeoli. These depressions in the stem protect the developing, delicate flowers until they are ready to open. The flowers are white, about 5 to 8 mm in size, and only open for a few days. After a short time, elongated, orange fruits develop from the flowers.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eMyrmecodia tuberosa\u003c\/em\u003e can grow impressively large. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.northqueenslandplants.com\/images\/Tozer's%20Gap,%20Iron%20Range%20GPS%201453%20RF%20-%20%20Myrmecodia%20tuberosa%20%20FN%202092%20(3).JPG\"\u003eVery old specimens\u003c\/a\u003e have a caudex up to 75 cm long and 30 cm thick and weigh over 10 kg, although they naturally have many air-filled chambers inside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eMyrmecodia tuberosa\u003c\/em\u003e grows quickly with proper care and is a good ant plant for beginners. It is best kept in a terrarium or plant display case, but can also be kept as a houseplant after acclimatization.\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\u003eMyrmecodia\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 mostly 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\u003eYou will receive a young plant in a 5.5cm pot (see picture 3 in the gallery). \u003cem\u003eMyrmecodia\u003c\/em\u003e plants develop corky growths on their leaves. These are not pests!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Jungle Leaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56318968234361,"sku":"Myr001","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0951\/8389\/6953\/files\/Myrmecodia-tuberosa-Standard-03.jpg?v=1764905098","url":"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/en\/products\/myrmecodia-tuberosa","provider":"Jungle Leaves","version":"1.0","type":"link"}