Triplaris americana
| Ant tree | |
|---|---|
| |
| |
| female flowers | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Polygonaceae |
| Genus: | Triplaris |
| Species: | T. americana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Triplaris americana | |
Triplaris americana is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by many common names, including ant tree[1] or pau-formiga ("ant tree"),[2] guacamayo, guayabo zancón, hormiguero, palo de Santa María, tachí, vara santa,[3] pau-de-novato, formigueiro, taxizeiro,[2] and devil tree.[4] It is native to Central and South America, occurring from Panama to Brazil.[1] It is also cultivated as an ornamental for its showy pink flowers.[5]
The ant tree grows up to 30 meters in height, with a trunk up to 30 centimeters in diameter and
This tree grows in riparian habitat types, and is a colonizer of disturbed habitat.[6] It has been introduced to areas outside its native range, including Hawaii[1] and southern Africa.[5]
This species of tree is a myrmecophyte and it has a mutualistic relationship with ants, including Pseudomyrmex triplarinus. This kind of ant lives within the tree, feeding on substances produced by it and defending it against invaders.[7] This tree is known as a "novice tree" (pau-de-novato) because only one unfamiliar with the tree would touch it, soon discovering that the ants are aggressive and venomous.[2]
This tree is considered a noxious weed in southern Africa.[1] The fruits are dispersed on the wind and the seedlings easily take hold and become invasive, growing in the local habitat and displacing native plants.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e Triplaris americana. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
- ^ a b c Haddad Junior, V., et al. (2009). The Triplaria tree (Triplaris spp) and Pseudomyrmex ants: a symbiotic relationship with risks of attack for humans. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 42 6.
- ^ Triplaris americana. Catálogo de la Biodiversidad de Colombia.
- OCLC 56632601.
- ^ a b c Ant tree (Triplaris americana) is: Beautiful.......but dangerous!.[permanent dead link] Southern African Plant Invaders Atlas, April 2010.
- ^ a b Melampy, M. N. and H. F. Howe. (1977). Sex ratio in the tropical tree Triplaris americana (Polygonaceae). Evolution 31 867-72.
- ^ Bakalar, N. Polite guests, ants pick host trees out of a crowd. New York Times May 13, 2011.