Ant-Gardens: The Interaction of Codonanthe Crassifolia (Gesneriaceae) and Crematogaster Longispina (Formicidae)

A mutualistic association of the type named ant—garden by Ule (1901) between Crematogaster longispina, an arboreal, carton—building ant, and Codonanthe crassifolia, an epiphytic vine, is found in northeastern Costa Rican lowland rain forest. Both species gain an increase in food resources by participating in the association. The plant produces floral and extrafloral nectar and fruit with pulp and seed arils that are eaten by the ants. In turn, the ants place the seeds of the plant in the walls of their carton nests. The seeds germinate and the plants grow and obtain nutrients from the detritus with which the ants construct their nests. The growth rate of plants which are not on ant nests is significantly less than the growth rate of plants on ant nests.