Australian Ant Plants: Amazing Relationships with Insects

Australian epiphytic (tree dwelling) ant-plants are unusual and fascinating because they have developed close relationships with ants that primarily involve providing them with readymade homes within hollow stems or leaves. A range of very different and bizarre plant species form this informal grouping, defined further by their sharing of a mutually beneficial relationship with ants. There is also a fascinating relationship with butterflies covered. Some of these plants are very rare.

These plants are only along or near the east coast of northern Queensland.  They often become dislodged from trees during severe storms and are found on the ground, but seldom take root and grow.  Ant-plants do not survive severe fires so are only found where fire has not occurred or cannot reach.