出典:Wiktionary
出典:『Wiktionary』 (2025/11/13 00:07 UTC 版)
myrmecophyte (plural myrmecophytes)
出典:Wikipedia
出典:『Wikipedia』 (2011/06/15 17:42 UTC 版)
Myrmecophyte (mər′mek•ə‚fīt; literally “ant-plant”) is a plant that lives in a mutualistic association with a colony of ants. There are over 100 different genera of myrmecophytes. These plants possess structural adaptations that provide ants with food and/or shelter. These specialized structures include , , and . In exchange for food and shelter, ants aid the myrmecophyte in pollination, seed dispersal, gathering of essential nutrients, and/or defense. Specifically, domatia adapted to ants may be called myrmecodomatia.