Macrosolen parasiticus

Macrosolen parasiticus
At Thattekad in India
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Santalales
Family:	Loranthaceae
Genus:	Macrosolen
Species:	M. parasiticus
Binomial name
Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser
Synonyms [1]
Lonicera parasitica L. Blumella loniceroides(L.) Tiegh. Elytranthe lonicerioides(L.) G.Don Elytranthe parasitica(L.) Danser Iticania loniceroidesRaf. Loranthus loniceroides L. Loranthus macrophyllusZenker Loranthus umbellatusB.Heyne Tolypanthus loniceroides(L.) Blume

Macrosolen parasiticus is a species of parasitic shrub in the family Loranthaceae. ^[2] It is commonly called parasite honeysuckle. It is widely distributed in tropical South and South West Indian regions especially in the Western Ghats. ^[3] Macrosolen parasiticus species were described by Danser (1938). ^[4]

Description

Macrosolen parasiticus is a parasitic shrub with thickened stem at nodes, like mistletoe. The oppositely arranged, ovate-lanceolate leaves have sharp tips and rounded bases. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 6–12 mm long. The flowers are few and stalkless. The peduncle carrying the spikes is up to 1 cm long. The flowers have a long, variegated, reddish flower tube, which is slightly curved. It has six, 5–6 mm long petals which are green and turned back.^{[ clarification needed ]} The fruit is an ovoid berry, green, with persistent sepals. ^[2] Flowering and fruiting occurs from December to May. ^[3]

References

1. "Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
2. "Macrosolen parasiticus - Parasite Honeysuckle". www.flowersofindia.net. Archived from the original on 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
3. "Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
4. "Macrosolen parasiticus (L.) Danser — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2019-01-15.