#AntPlant

Hua Roi Ru, a tuber-bearing plant tied to Thai folk healing, continues to captivate researchers and communities alike. Known in Thai as Hua Roi Ru and also called กระเช้าผีมด, ร้อยรู, ปุ่มฟ้า, and ดาลูบูตาลิมา, it belongs to the Hydnophytum formicarium group in the coffee family. The plant is celebrated not only for its unusual hollow caudex that houses ant colonies but also for its long-standing use in traditional remedies that aim to ease pain, fever, and digestive discomfort. For many Thai families, Hua Roi Ru embodies a bridge between forest wisdom and everyday wellness.

Thailand’s traditional medicine is a vibrant tapestry, woven with centuries-old remedies passed down through generations. Among these, the curious Hua Roi Ru (หัวร้อยรู) stands out not just for its name, which literally means “a hundred holes tuber,” but for its striking peculiarities—both botanical and medicinal. Known also as กระเช้าผีมด, ร้อยรู, ปุ่มฟ้า, and ดาลูบูตาลิมา, and bearing the scientific title Hydnophytum formicarium Jack. in the Rubiaceae family, this plant is as enthralling for modern researchers as it has long been revered in Thai folk healing.