| Korthalsella salicornioides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Korthalsella salicornioides on manuka | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Santalaceae |
| Genus: | Korthalsella |
| Species: | K. salicornioides |
| Binomial name | |
| Korthalsella salicornioides | |
Korthalsella salicornioides or dwarf mistletoe is an endemic parasitic plant in New Zealand. [1]
Korthalsella salicornicoides is named after the succulent coastal plant Salicornia , because it has succulent stems. These appear as a dense mass of small fleshy leafless twigs, up to 10 cm long, usually growing on the host plants manuka ( Leptospermum scoparium ) and kanuka ( Kunzea ericoides ). It is reddish-yellow to green with tiny flowers and small yellow fruits from October to May. [2] It is similar to the other two species of New Zealand leafless mistletoe in the genus Korthalsella , but has denser stems arising at a narrower angle.
This species is scattered across forests and scrublands in New Zealand, only abundant in small local patches. [3] In some areas it is threatened by felling of Leptospermum and Kunzea for firewood, farming, or exotic forestry. [2] It is classed as Threatened-Nationally Critical by the Department of Conservation.
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant.
Leptospermum scoparium, commonly called mānuka, mānuka myrtle, New Zealand teatree, broom tea-tree, or just tea tree, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, native to New Zealand and south-east Australia. Its nectar produces Mānuka honey.
Bergerocactus emoryi is a species of cactus, known commonly as the golden-spined cereus, golden snake cactus, velvet cactus or golden club cactus. It is a relatively small cactus, but it can form dense thickets or colonies, with the dense yellow spines giving off a velvety appearance when backlit by the sun. From April to May, yellow, green-tinged flowers emerge, which transform into reddish, globular fruit. This species is native to the California Floristic Province, and is found in northwestern Baja California and a small part of California, in San Diego County and on the southern Channel Islands. Where the Mediterranean climate of the California Floristic Province collides with the subtropical Sonoran Desert near El Rosario, hybrids with two other species of cacti are found. It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Bergerocactus, named after German botanist Alwin Berger.
Kunzea ericoides, commonly known as kānuka, kanuka, or white tea-tree, is a tree or shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New Zealand. It has white or pink flowers similar to those of Leptospermum and from its first formal description in 1832 until 1983 was known as Leptospermum ericoides. The flowers have five petals and up to 25 stamens which are mostly longer than the petals.
Olearia hectorii is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. Its common names include deciduous tree daisy and Hector's tree daisy. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is nationally endangered.
Korthalsella is a genus of flowering plants in the sandalwood family, Santalaceae. It contains about 25 species distributed in Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific Islands.
Hatiora salicornioides, the bottle cactus, dancing-bones, drunkard's-dream, or spice cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family. A member of the tribe Rhipsalideae, it often grows as an epiphyte, natively in eastern Brazil and ornamentally elsewhere.
Hypocreopsis amplectens is part of the family Hypocreaceae and genus Hypocreopsis, fungi that form stromata on the stems of trees and shrubs. The stromata are orange-brown and consist of radiating, perithecial lobes. This species of Hypocreopsis was only discovered in 1992 in Nyora (Victoria) during a survey of vascular plants.
Arceuthobium pusillum is a perennial, obligate parasitic plant in the sandalwood family. Its common names include Dwarf mistletoe or Eastern dwarf mistletoe. It is one of the most widespread dwarf mistletoes within its range which covers the eastern United States and Canada, from Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia and New Jersey. The species name "pusillum" derives from Latin "pusillus", meaning very small.
Leptospermum sericeum, commonly known as the silver tea tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has thin, firm bark, egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, relatively large, pink flowers and fruit that fall from the plant with the seeds. It grows in windswept rock crevices near Esperance.
Kunzea linearis, also known by the Maori name rawiri manuka, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New Zealand. It is a densely-foliaged shrub or small tree, characterised by very narrow leaves and clusters of small white flowers with five petals and a large number of stamens, which are longer than the petals. It grows in the north of the North Island and is the most distinctive of the New Zealand kunzeas.
Muellerina eucalyptoides, commonly known as creeping mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Zelleria sphenota is a species of moth in the family Yponomeutidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Declining'" by the Department of Conservation.
Holcaspis brevicula, the Eyrewell ground beetle, is a species of carabid beetle native to New Zealand, one of a number of small black flightless beetles in the genus Holcaspis that inhabit the dry eastern lowlands of the South Island. H. brevicula is very rare—only ten specimens have ever been collected—and critically endangered: the species was found only in Eyrewell Forest, a single plantation of exotic pine trees currently being converted into dairy farms.
Hatiora cylindrica is a species of often epiphytic cactus in the tribe Rhipsalideae within the subfamily Cactoideae. It is native to east Brazil, where it grows in a variety of habitats, including moist forest, dunes and coastal rocks.
Atriplex hollowayi, also known as Holloway's crystalwort, is a species of annual herbaceous plant in the genus Atriplex. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has the "Nationally Critical" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.
Carmichaelia corrugata is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found only on the South Island of New Zealand.
Tupeia is a monotypic genus of semi-parasitic shrubs (mistletoes) which occurs in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. There is only one species in the genus: Tupeia antarctica. There are no synonyms.
Peraxilla colensoi, the scarlet mistletoe, is a shrubby parasitic plant composed of broad, leathery leaves that grow up to 8 cm long and have a red edge. The common name is derived from the scarlet petals of the plant that bloom every October to January. These mistletoes are parasitic plants whose seeds attach themselves to host plants. The most common host for these plants is the silver beech. The plant can grow up to 3 meters tall and are often located in low altitudes throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
Ileostylus micranthus, commonly known as green mistletoe pikirangi; pirinoa; pirirangi; pirita; small-flowered mistletoe, is a species of mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae.