Cecropia
Cecropia has made an incredible alliance with ants.
Cecropia are pioneer trees, i.e. rapid growing trees that flourish in large quantities in natural and man-made clearings in the rainforest.
As a protection against predation by insects and other animals, Cecropia has developed a unique mutualistic relationship with ants. Their branches are hollow and the ants can live inside them, protected from the surroundings. The trees also produce some special small carbohydrate-rich food bodies, which the ants eat.
In return, the ants defend the trees against herbivorous insects and other pests. If you chop over a branch on a wild-growing Cecropia, it will only be a few seconds before the tree is black with ants that will bite anything they come in contact with.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: Tropical house
- Danish name: Rørtræ
- Latin name: Cecropia
- Family: The nettle family / Urticaceae
- Natural habitat: Tropical America
Learn more about other plants here.