{"product_id":"pachycentria","title":"Pachycentria spec.","description":"This extraordinary member of the Melastomataceae family originates from Southeast Asia. \u003cem\u003ePachycentria\u003c\/em\u003e are epiphytic and often grow on other epiphytes, especially other ant-loving plants (e.g., \u003cem\u003eHydnophytum\u003c\/em\u003e ). As they mature, they develop thick, woody adventitious roots with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com\/photos\/62415842\/original.jpeg\"\u003ebladder-like swellings\u003c\/a\u003e up to 3 cm in diameter, which are inhabited by ants.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ePachycentria\u003c\/em\u003e are closely associated with certain ant species. They form so-called \" \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ant_garden\"\u003eant gardens\u003c\/a\u003e ,\" together with other myrmecophytic plants and ants from the genera \u003cem\u003eCamponotus\u003c\/em\u003e , \u003cem\u003ePhilidris\u003c\/em\u003e , and \u003cem\u003eCremtogaster\u003c\/em\u003e . In these gardens, the plants provide the ants with a home, feed them, and allow them to disperse their seeds. The defensive ants protect the plants. In nature, \u003cem\u003ePachycentria\u003c\/em\u003e appears to grow only in such ant gardens. Don't worry, they can easily be cultivated without ants.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This species is a small, epiphytic shrub with many drooping, creeping, or upright branches and adventitious roots. The leaves grow up to 10 cm long and are thick and succulent. The species offered here has significantly larger leaves and fruits than the more commonly offered \u003cem\u003ePachycentria glauca\u003c\/em\u003e .\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eYou will receive a young plant in a 7cm pot. These young plants do not yet have thickened roots. They will only develop these after 2 to 3 years with proper care.","brand":"Jungle Leaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56319152324985,"sku":"Pac01","price":14.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0951\/8389\/6953\/files\/Pachycentria-spec.-03.jpg?v=1764916705","url":"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/en\/products\/pachycentria","provider":"Jungle Leaves","version":"1.0","type":"link"}