Vitex thyrsiflora
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| Vitex thyrsiflora | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Vitex |
| Species: | V. thyrsiflora |
| Binomial name | |
| Vitex thyrsiflora Baker[2] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Vitex thyrsiflora is a species of woody vine in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to tropical West and Central Africa. Its hollow stem is used as a home by an aggressive species of ant.
Distribution
Vitex thyrsiflora grows in the rain forests of tropical West and Central Africa, its range extending from Guinea and Ivory Coast, through Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1]
Ecology
Vitex thyrsiflora has hollow twigs and branches and ants use these as their domatia (specialised chambers adapted for habitation by ants). In young lianas, several species of ant compete for the use of these domatia, but in older individuals, the aggressive ant Tetraponera tessmanni establishes dominance over the other species and is the only ant occupant. Apart from patrolling the liana's leaves and attacking herbivorous insects that land on them, all the ants' activities take place in the interior of the liana.[4]