Andreas Wistuba Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 In order to bring confusion about the Myrmecodia species from Triton Bay and Timika to a new level, here are a few pictures of a species that seems to be closely related to me. Flowers seem to be similar as is the arrangement of spines. However the plants have no tendency to "hang down". Also, the caudex seems to be more rounded. I posted some of the pictures a while back in the Facebook group as well, just in case they seem familiar. I am not 100% sure if all pictures show the same species. Some plants are light brown and have more distinctively branched root spines. However this may be influenced by environmental factors. They grow together with potential Myrmephytum naumannii and a spiny Hydnophytum, which I will post pictures of soon. Please see posing #8 for a potential determination (Myrmecodia alata) Edit: Andreas Wistuba 9th of May 2014 Myrmecodia spec: Note the offspring tubers and spines growing from the roots: Hydnophytinae and Nepenthes grow on little islands in the gulf. Isn't that a wonderful place to look for plants? Ancient rock paintings at the walls of these little islands: Nepenthes treubiana, growing at the same spot: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Bonjour I seem to see here two different species.may be a Myrmecodia and a mymephytum or anthorrhiza ( caerulea ) have you a flower picture ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Hi Jeff, I have a plant that could flower soon. I'll post updates. Flowers of Myrmephytum should be 6-lobed while these have 4-lobed flowers. However, Anthorrhiza, hmmm... No, I just rechecked my "Goose" and also material from Kokas and they clearly have paired inflorescences (2 per leaf axil). So, they certainly do not fall into Anthorrhiza. But maybe, the plant that I suspect of being M. naumannii falls into Anthorrhiza. Time will tell... All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 I seem to see here two different species. I am not really sure. Leaves and flowers looked identical to me including the flat whitish petiole and the undulate leaf margins. There are plants with dark caudex and short spines and plants with light brown caudex and longer divided spines. However, since spines are roots they are greatly influenced by environment. All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 anthorrhiza have 4 merous this anthorrhiza caerulea is heterophile . pale turquoise corolla anther cream on the longistyle flower the anthers below the tube month , the stigma 8 lobed exserted on the brevistyle flower the anthers at the tube month ,stigma near the base of tube 4 lobed this myrmephytum naumannii : stem 15cm inflorescence starting 10cm from the stem base corolla with dense hairs at base of tube anther at the corolla mouth for me the stem apex with the inflorescence here is not the same than M.naumannii. jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 for me the 2 stems are not the same. the second may be with alveoli or clypeoli the first no leaves for the first along the stem , for the second just at the apex. the tuber for one cream for the other more dark , may be with different spine . jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 anthorrhiza have 4 merous Yes, of cause. Myrmephytum are 6 merous. That's what I wrote above. Anthorrhiza are 4 merous but all Anthorrhiza have solitary inflorescence. That's the main characteristic of the genus. These clearly have paired inflorescences (2 per leaf axil). So, they certainly do not fall into Anthorrhiza. All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Frank and me just had a very fruitful discussion on the forum chat. We compared data from Huxley & Jebb and Beccari... As a result, it's quite obvious that these blueish flowered taxons belong to the Myrmecodia erinacea - Myrmecodia alata complex. The winged petioles, the spines around the alveoli, the blueish flowers. Even the rings of pores do fit! Considering the drawing in Huxley and Jebb the Kokas plant seems to come quite close to Myrmecodia alata! I changed the topic title accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 From Beccari: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Myrmecodia alata Odoardo Beccari published in Malesia Raccolta 2, 1884, synonyms M. prolifera, and M. aruensis. Another rather distinctive species. Tuber small to 15 x 7 cm, not ridged, cylindrical, greyish brown with ± dense stiff spines and prominent rings of pores but few entrance holes. Stems usually solitary, rarely two, mostly un-branched to 18 x 1.3 cm. With no clypeoli but rounded alveoli densely rimmed by thick spines that are also occasional on stem surface; fruit yellow, seed 4. Habitats in swamp and hill forest at 80-170 m. (262-558 ft.) Not all populations are distinct and it coexists with the similar M. erinacea. Records: All are in Indonesia: West Papua Province; Vogelkop Peninsula, Sorong on Mlasoen Hill and in the Arfak Mountains, home of the Arfak Mountains Nature Reserve. Maluku Province, Aru Islands, situated just south of the isthmus to West Papua Province. Papua Province, Bernhard Camp on the Taritatu (once the Idenburg) River. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted May 10, 2014 Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 no flower picture ? OK for one of these2 , for the second picture with the leaves at the apex. you think that these 2 are the same specie ? jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 no flower picture ? OK for one of these2 , for the second picture with the leaves at the apex. you think that these 2 are the same specie ? jeff If I finally find out how to do good preparations of Hydnophytinae flowers without just squashing these delicate things I can soon present flower images...I am open for hints... I am now confident that all at least belong to the Myrmecodia alata / Myrmecodia erninacea complex. The flat white petiole is very characteristic. I was completely blind when it comes to this... All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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