Abstract
Field experinfents and observations indicate that c. 1500 species, representing 87 genera and 24
families, of Australian vascular plants are myrmecochorous, i.e. regularly dispersed by ants because
of ant-attracting structures (elaiosomes) on their seeds or fruits. Ant behaviour towards an elaiosome
depends primarily upon the species of ant but also upon the individual ant and the field situation.
Australian myrmecochorous plants are unexpectedly numerous and strikingly different from those
known from the northern hemisphere. Most of them are shrubs. Diplochory is common. Subsidiary
myrmecochorous features are rare. The elaiosomes are often firm and persistent. Australian
myrmecochorous plants are not forest mesophytes, as are most of those previously known, but
xerophytes of the Australian dry heath and sclerophyll vegetation. Apparently myrmecochory was
not brought to Australia with immigrating plants, but developed within Australia, probably under
the selective influence of xeric habitats as they spread during the Tertiary.
Subject
Plant Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
337 articles.
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