Hej,
I fond the plant in the picture in a plantshop, without any information.
I had the idea that it is an ant plant, Myrmecodia or so. Is this close, and has anyone a more precisice id?
I know it might not "formally" be a suckulent, but in spite I think it's an epiphyte it looks suckulent.
Any cultivation hints in a cactus/other suckulent environment?
Admin: please move the message to plants of interest if thats how it should be.
All the best,
Torbjörn
Yes, it is certainly a Myrmecodia but being a juvenile and with no record of its country of origin, I am hesitant to apply a specific name. These tuberous epiphytic plants are all from the tropics with most species in popular cultivation from lowland regions; therefore, they need warmth, preferably seldom below 20 degrees C. Although some species endure long dry seasons (up to seven months on Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia.) Humidity always remains high and the level of dryness is nothing like many cacti experience. They are watered fairly freely in hot weather but more cautiously in cool/cold weather but allowed to dry somewhat between waterings. However, they are xerophytic sometimes succulent and probably all species use a Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway. Being ant fed, they respond very well to high nitrogen formulations.
Some further reading here. http://www.cactusexplorers.org.uk/Explo ... mplete.pdf See page 54 onwards. http://xerophilia.ro/wp-content/uploads ... evised.pdf http://xerophilia.ro/wp-content/uploads ... -20121.pdf See page 62 onwards.
The best information source with many world leading images on the WWW is here. http://myrmecodia.invisionzone.com/
As your plant matures compare it with good images of the northern form of M. beccarii. Diagnostic features are comparatively deep and well rimmed stem alveoli (the pits from which flowers and fruit emerge) and whitish fruits. The white flowers in your image are also a diagnostic.
Derrick, thank you verymuch for a massive amount of information.
I will do my very best to keep the plant alive.
It certainly looks interesting!
Thanks,
Torbjörn