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| Ant Plant
How about this one? It has special leaves that are hollow inside. Ants move inside these hollow-leaf "condos" and raise their families. When they are ready to move out and into a new leaf, they use the old leafy place for a trash dump. The leaf has a root growing inside this heap and takes food and water from it. It has a compost pile inside its own leaf! Oh, the ants pay rent by protecting the plant from predators and other insects. Touch this one and you will have to fight an instant army of ants with an attitude! |
Dischidia rafflesiana |
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Ant Plant no. 2
How would you feel about your ants moving in with you? It might be OK if they were part of the neighborhood patrol! This plant is another ant condo that trades room and board for body guards. This Ant Plant has a big base (caudex, if you want the official weird word) with lots of tunnels and chambers that stinging ants like to live in. The leaves produce tiny specks of starch that the ants like to snack on (kinda like popcorn?). The ants patrol the plant and keep pesky insects and would-be grazers away with great enthusiasm!
Some orchids, bromeliads, and ferns are among many other plants that have a close relationship with ants. These plants are called (get ready for another weird word) myrmecophilous! |
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