A Beltian body is a detachable tip found on the pinnules of some species of '' Acacia'' and closely related genera. Beltian bodies, named after

Thomas Belt Thomas Belt (183221 September 1878), an English geologist and naturalist, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1832, and educated in that city. He is remembered for his work on the geology of gold bearing minerals, glacial geology, and for his desc ...

, are rich in

lipid Lipids are a broad group of naturally-occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids includ ...

s, sugars and

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...

s and often red in colour. They are believed to have evolved in a symbiotic relationship with

ant Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of ...

s. The ants live inside special plant structures (

domatia A domatium (plural: domatia, from the Latin "domus", meaning home) is a tiny chamber that houses arthropods, produced by a plant. Ideally domatia differ from galls in that they are produced by the plant rather than being induced by their inhabi ...

) or near the plant and keep away herbivores. Other ant- mutualism related plant structures include Beccarian, Mullerian and pearl bodies. Unique among spiders for its predominantly herbivorous diet, ''

Bagheera kiplingi ''Bagheera kiplingi'' is a species of jumping spider found in Central America, including Mexico, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. It is the type species of the genus ''Bagheera'', which includes three other species, including '' B. prosper''.Platnick, ...

'' feeds almost exclusively on Beltian bodies.

References

External links

* Plant physiology Plant morphology {{Botany-stub

See also

References

External links