Author: | Odoardo Beccari, 1885 |
Family: |
RUBIACEAE |
Origin: |
North-East Australia, Papua New Guinea
Bismarck Archipelago, Maluku, Philippines, Solomon Islands |
Soil: |
Epiphytic |
Water:
|
Maximum |
Sun: |
Medium |
Thickness: |
38 Centimetres |
Height: |
100 Centimetres |
Flower:
|
White |
Propagate: |
Seeds/Cuttings |
Names:
|
Ant Plant |
Synonyms: |
Hydnophytum
forbesii, Joseph
Dalton Hooker, 1892.
Hydnophytum agatifolium, Valeton
Hydnophytum brachycladum, Merr.
Hydnophytum brassii, S.Moore
Hydnophytum camporum, S.Moore
Hydnophytum capitatum, Valeton
Hydnophytum crassifolium, Becc.
Hydnophytum cuneatum, Valeton
Hydnophytum laurifolium, Warb.
Hydnophytum longistylum, Becc.
Hydnophytum loranthifolium,Becc.
Hydnophytum macrophyllum, Warb.
Hydnophytum mindanaense, Elmer
Hydnophytum montanum, Scheff.
Hydnophytum moseleyanum var. teysmannii, Becc.
Hydnophytum oblongum, Becc.
Hydnophytum
papuanum, Becc.
Hydnophytum philippinense, Becc.
Hydnophytum robustum, Rech.
Hydnophytum stewartii, Fosberg
Hydnophytum subfalcifolium, Valeton
Hydnophytum subrotundum, Valeton
Lasiostoma loranthifolium, Benth.
Lasiostoma oblongum, Benth. |
This member of the Rubiaceae
family was given this name by Odoardo Beccari in 1885. It is found
in north-eastern Australia and in Papua New Guinea, growing on the
branches of trees as a epiphyte. The caudex can grow to 38
centimetres, the branches reach one meter with small white
flowers and small orange berries. H. moseleyanum
have 3-4 pairs of veins in their slightly succulent, silverish and
smooth caudex without ridges, ant entrances spread all over the lover half
of the caudex, flowers 4-5 millimetres. Often confused with
H.
formicarum, which have 6-12 pairs of veins in
their leathery leaves, brownish and rough
caudex with ridges, ant entrances only along the soil line, flowers
3-4 millimetres.
Sub-family: Rubioideae.
Tibe: Psychotrieae. Sub-tribe: Hydnophytinae.
In my experience, the seeds should be
sown within a week after opening the fresh fruit.
The genera name after Greek hydnon meaning 'tuber' and phyton meaning
'plant', after the swollen branches. The species name after the
capital of Papay New Guinea; Port Moresby.
It needs rather high humidity.
Hydnophyttnae KEY.
|