Accession #: 201100231
Accession Date: 2011-09-20
Common name: Pachycentria
Family: Melastomataceae
Synonym(s):
Country of Origin: peninsular Malaysia
Description: Pachycentria glauca are small epiphytes commonly associated with ant nests and myrmecophytes such as Hynophytum and Dischidia. The plants provide pearl bodies, tiny lipid-rich, hence ant-nutritious foods on their leaves, stems, inflorescences and even flowers, which when eaten contribute to the energy budget of resident ant colonies. Pachycentria tubers have the anatomical structure of storage roots and are not ant inhabited unless as sometimes happens the epidermis of some tubers crack and they become hollow. 2 They are dispersed over longer distances by small to middle-sized birds that eat the fleshy berries. However, ants possibly reclaim some seed from bird droppings and probably glean both food and seed directly from the berries themselves.2
Uses:
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USDA Zone: 10-11?
Source: Black Jungle
Provenance:
Restrictions:
Culture: