''Myrmephytum'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of myrmecophytic

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules ...

. It is distributed from central

Malesia Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom. It has been given different definitions. The ...

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

. It is one of five

ant-plant Myrmecophytes (; literally "ant-plant") are plants that live 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/ ...

genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others being ''

Anthorrhiza ''Anthorrhiza'' is a genus of myrmecophytic flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea, including the Louisiade Archipelago. It is one of five ant-plant genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others being ''Hydnophy ...

'', ''

Hydnophytum ''Hydnophytum'' is a genus of epiphytic myrmecophytes (ant plants) native to Southeast Asia, the Pacific region and also extending into Queensland in northern Australia. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek ''hydnon'' "tuber", and ''phyton' ...

'', ''

Myrmecodia ''Myrmecodia'' is a genus of epiphytic myrmecophytes (mər′mek•ə‚fīt; literally "ant-plant"), native to Southeast Asia, but also present in Indochina, Malaysia, the Southwest Pacific, the Philippines, Fiji, and extending south to Queensl ...

'', and ''

Squamellaria ''Squamellaria'' is a genus of myrmecophyte, myrmecophytic flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. It is endemism, endemic to the islands of Fiji. It is one of five ant-plant genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others being ...

''.

Species

The following list of 5 species is sourced from

The Plant List The Plant List was a list of botanical names of species of plants created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden and launched in 2010. It was intended to be a comprehensive record of all known names of plant species ...

.''Myrmephytum''

. *''

Myrmephytum arfakianum ''Myrmephytum'' is a genus of myrmecophytic flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is distributed from central Malesia to New Guinea. It is one of five ant-plant genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others being ''Anthorrhiza'', ''Hydnoph ...

'' (Becc.) Huxley & Jebb *''

Myrmephytum beccarii ''Myrmephytum'' is a genus of myrmecophytic flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is distributed from central Malesia to New Guinea. It is one of five ant-plant genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others being ''Anthorrhiza'', ''Hydnoph ...

'' Elmer *''

Myrmephytum moniliforme ''Myrmephytum'' is a genus of myrmecophytic flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is distributed from central Malesia to New Guinea. It is one of five ant-plant genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others being ''Anthorrhiza'', ''Hydnoph ...

'' Huxley & Jebb *''

Myrmephytum naumannii ''Myrmephytum'' is a genus of myrmecophyte, myrmecophytic flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. It is distributed from central Malesia to New Guinea. It is one of five ant-plant genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others b ...

'' (Warb.) Huxley & Jebb *''

Myrmephytum selebicum ''Myrmephytum'' is a genus of myrmecophytic flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is distributed from central Malesia to New Guinea. It is one of five ant-plant genera in the family Rubiaceae, the others being ''Anthorrhiza'', ''Hydnoph ...

'' (Becc.) Becc.

References

Rubiaceae genera Myrmecophytes Taxa named by Odoardo Beccari Psychotrieae {{Rubioideae-stub