Creators of diabolical gardens
2005/09/22 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia
In some areas of the Amazonian pluviometric forest something very curious happens: only a species of tree grows. Its inhabitants call these unique places “diabolical gardens”, since the growth of a single species seems an authentic demoneria. It is not natural that this occurs with the presence of so much vegetation in the environment. Undoubtedly, it is something supernatural that must create these spaces. That is what at least those of Amazonia believe.
However, the scientific journal Nature has published what is behind this devils: the devil is an ant. The ant is called Myrmelachista schumanni and Duroia hirsuta lives in the holes of the tree. And, apparently, the ant, in exchange for protection and safety, is grateful, since it kills the rest of tree species. For this purpose, ants introduce venom in their leaves, formic acid.
Thanks to this behavior, ants contribute to the expansion of the trees that protect them, which increases the possibilities of growth of the colony of ants itself. In each “demonic garden” they can live three hundred trees and millions of ants, which can last hundreds of years.
In the upper image there is a demonic garden, below an ant poison in the leaf of the strange plant and next to it lose leaves by poison action.
Photo: Nature Nature
