Hydnophytum moseleyanum, commonly known as smooth ant plant, is a plant in the coffee and gardenia family Rubiaceae native to the Philippines, New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula in Australia. It is an epiphyte that inhabits mangrove forest and rainforest, and it forms a symbiotic relationship with certain species of ants.[4]
| Smooth ant plant | |
|---|---|
| |
| Foliage, flowers and fruit | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Hydnophytum |
| Species: | H. moseleyanum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hydnophytum moseleyanum | |
Taxonomy
editThis species was first described in 1884 by the Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari, and published in his book Malesia.[5]
Conservation
editThis species is listed by the Queensland Government's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation as "special least concern", a rating unique to Queensland which is ranked between "least concern" and "near threatened".[1][6] As of 14 August 2024[update], it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
References
edit- ^ a b "Species profile—Hydnophytum moseleyanum". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Hydnophytum moseleyanum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Hydnophytum moseleyanum Becc". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Hydnophytum moseleyanum". LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Beccari, Odoardo (1884). Malesia. Genoa: Istituto Sordomuti. p. 125. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Threatened species conservation classes". Queensland Department of Environment, Land and Water. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
External links
edit
- View a map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver.com