A Rubiaceous epiphyte from the Philippines with an unfortunate choice of name (in my opinion). The name seems like a cross of two other genera of Ant Plants; Myrmecodia and Hydnophytum though this is a stand alone genus with a few species.

This species also is confusing; Myrmephotymum beccarii is also the same as Myrmecodia beccarii. Too confusing for comfort if you ask me, but you didn’t, did you? This rare plant seems to be restricted to Sibuyan Island of the Philippines where it lives in wet forest. An ant plant, it has a caudex with tunnels or cavities inside and openings to the outside so ants can move in. We have none of those ant species here so there is no worry about ants of course.

The caudex grows with age and starts out quite “hairy” but later the hairs sort of disappear leaving tiny bumps. The branches are slender, more like those of Hydnophytum and the leaves lanceolate to slightly oblong-lanceolate. The flowers are unusual in that they are six petaled and bluish in color. They form on the mature trunk and limbs and are followed by reddish fruit.

ex. J. Vannini

NO HOLDING

Myrmephytum selebicum