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The world list of plants with ant domatia

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This database was first published in Chomicki and Renner (2015). The list below is an updated version, that I plan to continuously update. 

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In Chomicki and Renner (2015, New Phytologist 207: 411-424), we recognised 8 main types of domatia: "We classified domatia into eight types: (1) stem domatia, any hollow stem or twig, independent of the order or number of shoot axes transformed into domatia; (2) leaf pouches, all pouch domatia formed on the petiole and/or lamina; (3) hollow rachis, the leaf rachis axis is swollen and hollow, as in Tachigali; (4) leaf base domatia, a cavity formed into the spaces of interlocked leaf bases, as in Tillandsia; (5) stipular domatia, which include stipular thorns, stipular pouches, either closed or open; (6) root tuber domatia, for a transformed root tuber; (7) external domatia, for domatia formed by epiphytes with a structure pressed against the host tree which can be a leaf (Fig. 1b) or a modified stem; (8) hypocotyl with galleries, for the unique domatia of the Hydnophytinae (Myrmecodia, Hydnophytum and related genera)."

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Here, I expanded this definition to modified root systems with clear derived traits making them scaffolds for ant nest construction.

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Ant domatia are broadly defined by derived structures that are modified for ant nesting. Some cases includes plants with consistant symbioses with ants, but often involving the ants hollowing the twigs and piercing their entrance holes through weak points in the stem. These are likely examples of early evolutionary stage of ant/plant symbioses, and are thus included in the list. 

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I am grateful for any comments, addition or corrections. Please email me at guillaume.chomicki[at]gmail.com.

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To download the database in .xslx format, click here.

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Please cite the database as:

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Chomicki, G. (2019). World list of plants with ant domatia. [URL] (date of access).

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See also the database on plants with extrafloral nectaries by our friends Marjorie Weber and colleagues.

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