Family: Rubiaceae
Myrmecodia tuberosa, also known as the ant plant, is an epiphyte native to Malesia, Vietnam, the Solomon Islands, and northern Australia that has a symbiotic relationship with some ant species. Ants use the hollow body of the plant as shelter, defend the plant from other insects, and provide nutrients to the plant through their waste. There are no reports that ant plants have naturalized or become invasive outside their native range, although the ant, and possibly bird-dispersed seeds suggest they could naturalize in suitable tropical habitats. Nevertheless, the risk of negative impacts to the Hawaiian Islands appears to be low.
High Risk Traits:
- Grows over a broad elevation range in regions with tropical climates.
- Thick, tuberous stems may be covered with spines.
- Reproduces by seeds.
- Self-fertile
- Seeds dispersed by ants, birds, and through intentional cultivation.
- Limited information on cultivation outside its native range may reduce accuracy of risk prediction.
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of naturalization or invasiveness, but not reported to be widely cultivated outside its native range.
- No reports of toxicity.
- Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread),
- Reported to be slow growing.
- Seeds remain viable for a short time (unlikely to form a seed bank or be spread accidentally).
