Pachycentria glauca

Common Name: Pachycentria

Family: Melastomataceae

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

USDA Zone: 10-11?

Accession #: 201100231

Accession Date: 2011-09-20 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 4104

Quantity: 2

Source: Black Jungle

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: rosids

Order: Myrtales

Family: Melastomataceae

SubFamily: Melastomatoideae

Tribe: Miconieae