Dendrophthoe vitellina

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Dendrophthoe vitellina
Dendrophthoe vitellinaNGH.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Loranthaceae
Genus: Dendrophthoe
Species:
D. vitellina
Binomial name
Dendrophthoe vitellina
Synonyms

Loranthus vitellinus F. Muell.

Dendrophthoe vitellina, commonly known as long-flowered- or apostle mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic plant of the mistletoe family Loranthaceae. The genus Dendrophthoe comprises about 31 species spread across tropical Africa, Asia, and Australia. Despite being collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in 1788, and depicted in Banks' Florilegium , [1] it was not until 1860 that it was described by Ferdinand von Mueller as Loranthus vitellinus after being collected near Ipswich, and renamed by Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem in 1895. [2]

Contents

Description

It grows as shrubby plant, with either a spreading or pendent (drooping) habit, from a tree branch or trunk. It has external roots, and hairy new growth maturing to smooth branches and foliage. The leaves are spear- or oval-shaped with a blunt apex, and measure 4–16 cm (1.5–6.5 in) long and 0.6–3 cm (0.24–1.18 in) wide. The inflorescences are composed of 5 to 20 smaller flowers. [3] The flowers are generally yellow or orange with red tips, though some northern populations have redder flowers. They are covered in a fine fur. [1] Flowering is followed by the development of an egg-shaped fruit 1–1.5 cm (0.39–0.59 in) long and red to yellow in colour, which contains a single seed in a sticky coating. [4]

The similar-looking smooth-flowered mistletoe ( D. glabrescens ) has smooth flowers and leaves broader than 3 cm (1 in) in width, and is found west of the Great Dividing Range. [1]

Distribution and habitat

The range is from far north Queensland along the east coast of Australia through New South Wales and into Victoria. In northern New South Wales, it extends inland to the Nandewar Range [3] In Victoria it occurs to the east of Genoa in East Gippsland. [5] It generally grows on trees of the family Myrtaceae in open sclerophyll forest, [3] but also on Eucalyptus grandis in forest on the fringes of rainforest. [6]

Ecology

At least 66 native plant species from 16 families (predominantly the genera Eucalyptus , Angophora and Melaleuca ) have been recorded as host plants for Dendrophthoe vitellina, and in addition, a number of exotic species also. [1] It has been recorded on an exotic plane tree, Platanus × hispanica . [7] Growing on a small red bloodwood ( Corymbia gummifera ) is hazardous for the host species. [4]

Dendrophthoe vitellina is the main host plant for caterpillars of the marbled line blue butterfly ( Erysichton palmyra ), while caterpillars of other butterfly species the black jezebel ( Delias nigrina ), red-banded jezebel ( D. mysis ), narcissus jewel ( Hypochrysops narcissus ), silky jewel ( H. digglesii ), dull oakblue ( Arhopala centaurus ), black-spotted flash ( Hypolycaena phorbas ), trident pencil-blue ( Candalides margarita ), dark purple azure ( Ogyris abrota ), golden azure ( O. ianthis ), orange-tipped azure ( O. iphis ), sapphire azure ( O. aenone ), southern purple azure ( O. genoveva ) and northern purple azure ( O. zosine ) also eat the plant. [1] The fleshy fruit is consumed by the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). [4]

The seed immediately begins to germinate and soon penetrates the vascular system of the tree and creates a physiological connection with the Xylem of the new host. From that point, the seedling begins to obtain water and mineral nutrients from the host. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Delias eucharis</i> Species of butterfly

Delias eucharis, the common Jezebel, is a medium-sized pierid butterfly found in many areas of south and southeast Asia, especially in the non-arid regions of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. The common Jezebel is one of the most common of the approximately 225 described species in the genus Delias.

<i>Angophora costata</i> Species of tree

Angophora costata, commonly known as Sydney red gum, rusty gum or smooth-barked apple, is a species of tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. Reaching 30 m (100 ft) in height, the species has distinctive smooth bark that is pinkish or orange-brown when new and fades to grey with age. Its lance-shaped leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stems, with white or creamy white flowers appearing from October to December. The flower buds are usually arranged in groups of three, followed by ribbed, oval or bell-shaped fruit.

<i>Brachychiton populneus</i> Species of tree

Brachychiton populneus, commonly known as the kurrajong, is a small to medium-sized tree found naturally in Australia in a diversity of habitats from wetter coastal districts to semi-arid interiors of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Carrejun and carrejan were the indigenous names of trees in the foothills of the Blue Mountains near Sydney, and the bark was used for twine and fishing lines. The extended trunk is a water storage device for survival in a warm dry climate. The bell-shaped flowers are variable in colour, while the leaves vary considerably in shape. The leaves are either simple and pointed, or may be 3–9 lobed. Saplings grow from a drought and fire-resistant tap-rooted tuber.

<i>Amyema miquelii</i> Species of plant

Amyema miquelii, also known as box mistletoe, is a species of flowering plant, an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae, found attached to several species of Australian eucalypt and occasionally on some species of Acacia. It is the most widespread of the Australian Mistletoes, occurring mainly to the west of the Great Dividing Range. It has shiny leaves and red flowers arranged in groups of 3. It is distinguished from the similar Amyema pendula through the individual stalks of the flowers.

<i>Angophora floribunda</i> Species of tree

Angophora floribunda, commonly known as the rough-barked apple, is a common woodland and forest tree of the family Myrtaceae native to Eastern Australia. Reaching 30 m (100 ft) high, it is a large tree with fibrous bark and cream-white flowers that appear over the Austral summer. It grows on alluvial soils on floodplains and along watercourses. Much of the land it grew on has been cleared for agriculture.

<i>Delias aganippe</i> Species of butterfly

Delias aganippe, the wood white or red-spotted Jezebel, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<i>Dendrophthoe</i> Genus of mistletoes

Dendrophthoe is a genus of hemiparasitic shrubs found in Asia and Australia known as mistletoes. The genus was described by German naturalist Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius in 1830. Species in this genus have a variety of reported uses in the medical traditions of the region, most notably in Nepal.

<i>Amyema congener</i> Species of mistletoe

Amyema congener, commonly known as the variable mistletoe, is a species of flowering plant, an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae from eastern Australia. It is found on members of the genera Allocasuarina, Acacia and some exotic species.

<i>Melaleuca nodosa</i> Species of plant

Melaleuca nodosa, commonly known as the prickly-leaved paperbark, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with narrow, sometimes needle-like leaves and profuse heads of yellow flowers as early as April or as late as January.

<i>Dendrophthoe glabrescens</i> Species of plant in the family Loranthaceae

Dendrophthoe glabrescens, commonly known as smooth mistletoe or orange mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic plant of the mistletoe family Loranthaceae, found in eastern and northern Australia. It flowers from October to January. The flowers are tubular, with a green base, but where the tube splits open, it displays orange and bright red.

<i>Amyema preissii</i> Species of plant

Amyema preissii, commonly known as wireleaf mistletoe, is a species of mistletoe, an epiphytic, hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae. It is native to Australia where it has been recorded from all mainland states. The flowers are red and up to 26 mm long. The fruits are white or pink, globose and 8–10 mm in diameter. Its habitat is sclerophyll forest and woodland where it is often found on wattles. On Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula its hosts include coast wirilda, golden wattle and drooping sheoak. Its sticky seeds are eaten and dispersed by mistletoebirds.

<i>Lysiana exocarpi</i> Species of mistletoe

Lysiana exocarpi, commonly known as harlequin mistletoe, is a species of hemiparasitic shrub, endemic to Australia. It is in the Gondwanan family Loranthaceae and is probably the most derived genus of that family with 12 pairs of chromosomes. The Loranthaceae is the most diverse family in the mistletoe group with over 900 species worldwide and including the best known species in Australia. Mistletoes are notable for their relationships with other species. In an early reference to the group in Australia Allan Cunningham explorer and first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, wrote in 1817: "The Bastard Box is frequently much encumbered with the twining adhering Loranthus aurantiacus which 'Scorning the soil, aloft she springs, Shakes her red plumes and claps her golden wings'."

<i>Atkinsonia</i> Genus of mistletoes

Atkinsonia is a hemi-parasitic shrub with oppositely set, entire leaves and yellowish, later rusty-red colored flowers, that is found in Eastern Australia. It is a monotypic genus, the only species being Atkinsonia ligustrina, and is assigned to the showy mistletoe family, Loranthaceae. It is sometimes called Louisa's mistletoe.

<i>Muellerina</i> (plant) Genus of mistletoes

Muellerina is a genus of parasitic aerial shrubs in the family Loranthaceae.

<i>Eucalyptus exserta</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus exserta, commonly known as Queensland peppermint, peppermint, bendo, yellow messmate or messmate, is a species of tree or a mallee and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has hard, fibrous bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical or cup-shaped fruit.

<i>Muellerina eucalyptoides</i> Species of plant

Muellerina eucalyptoides, commonly known as creeping mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae. The species is endemic to Australia.

<i>Amyema sanguinea</i> Species of mistletoe

Amyema sanguinea is an aerial hemiparasitic shrub within the genus Amyema, in the family Loranthaceae and native to Australia, where it is found in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

<i>Amyema melaleucae</i> Species of plant

Amyema melaleucae, also known as the tea-tree mistletoe, is a species of flowering plant within the genus Amyema, an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae native to Australia and found in Western Australia and South Australia on the coast, from north of Perth almost to the Victorian border.

<i>Muellerina bidwillii</i> Species of mistletoe

Muellerina bidwillii, common name Cypress-pine mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae. The species is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland.

<i>Muellerina celastroides</i> Species of mistletoe

Muellerina celastroides, common names Banksia mistletoe and coast mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae. The species is endemic to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Watson, David M. (2011). Mistletoes of Southern Australia. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO. p. 76. ISBN   978-0-643-09593-9.
  2. "Dendrophthoe vitellina (F.Muell.) Tiegh". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 A. L. Quirico. "New South Wales Flora Online: Dendrophthoe vitellina". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  4. 1 2 3 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1997). "Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 5: Dicotyledon families Flacourtiaceae to Myrsinaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (2): 330–544. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-14.
  5. Wild Plants of Victoria (database). Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2009.
  6. F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Dendrophthoe vitellina". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  7. Trevor J. Hawkeswood (2005). "A new record of parasitism of the introduced London Plane Tree, Platanus acerifolia (Aiton) Willd. (Platanaceae) by the Australian native mistletoe, Dendrophthoe vitellina (F.Muell.) Tieghem (Loranthaceae)" (PDF). calodema. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  8. Barlow, Bryan (21 August 2008). "What is a mistletoe ?". Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian National Botanic Gardens, Australian Government. Retrieved 9 November 2011.