Biology:Phoradendron quadrangulare

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of plant

Phoradendron quadrangulare
Phoradendron quadrangulare leafy stem with fruits
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Santalaceae
Genus: Phoradendron
Species:
P. quadrangulare
Binomial name
Phoradendron quadrangulare
(Kunth) Griseb. 1864
Synonyms

See text

Phoradendron quadrangulare, with no commonly accepted English name other than mistletoe, which is shared with many other similar species, is an evergreen shrub partly parasitic on branches of woody plants; it belongs to the Family Santalaceae.[1][2]

Description

Phoradendron quadrangulare is easy to recognize as a mistletoe because it's a compactly growing shrub on tree branches. Among the approximately 270 accepted Phoradendron species,[3] though a few other mistletoe species share the feature, its main field mark is that, except for the older ones, the stems are quadrangular in cross-section. The species is morphologically variable across its distribution area, with delicate to more robust plants, depending on the habitat. Here are some notable distinguishing features:[4][5]

  • Plants are monoecious -- with male and female flowers on the same individual.
  • The plant body is hairless.
  • Stem sections between where leaves arise, the internodes, are longish, up to 8 cm (3 in) long.
  • Where stems branch, there are collar-like green items called cataphylls.
  • Leaves either lack petioles or have them only up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long; blades are variable in shape, up to 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide.
  • Inflorescences are up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long with 2 to 5 segments, and 3 or 4 flowers per segment.
  • Male flowers are infrequent and distributed irregularly.
  • Berry-type fruits are spherical or nearly so, about 3 mm (0.12 in) in diameter, orangish or yellowish, smooth and hairless.

Distribution

Phoradendron quadrangulare is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, south through Central America and as far south in South America as Argentina and Paraguay.[1]

Host species

In highland central Mexico, Phoradendron quadrangulare parasitizes a variety of hosts, including different members of the family Fabaceae, as well as species of Decatropis, Forestiera, Guazuma, Melia, Parmentiera and others.[4]

Ecology

In Brazil it's been asserted that Phoradendron quadrangulare seeds are almost exclusively dispersed by Euphonia bird species, which defecate seeds in clumps on host branches.[6]

A study in Costa Rica of Phoradendron quadrangulare on Guazuma ulmifolia documented that the larger the host tree, the more likely it was to host the mistletoe.[7]

Phoradendron quadrangulare is one of several Phoradendron species recognized as a hyperparasite -- a parasite whose host also is a parasite, sometimes the host belonging to the same genus.[8]

Use in traditional medicine

In Mexico, Phoradendron quadrangulare has been used as an antiviral treatment against Herpes zoster. Ground leaves are applied to the affected area, and above that a whole leaf is held in place by a bandage. Also it's used as an analgesic for muscular pain.[9]

In Argentina, Phoradendron quadrangulare has been regarded as a treatment for cancer. Chemical analysis finds that compounds in the plant show antioxidant activity which can be explained by the presence of flavonoids and other active molecules.[10]

Among the Mayan people of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Phoradendron quadrangulare leaves have been documented used in combination with leaves of Talinum paniculatum and Phyllanthus amarus to treat a severe toothache. Below, it's shown how leaves from the three sources were mashed into a paste using a mortar and pestle, homemade with a whittled stick and the cut-off bottom of a 1-liter Coca-Cola bottle:[11]

  • Phoradendron quadrangulare leaves with leaves of Talinum paniculatum and Phyllanthus amarus
    Phoradendron quadrangulare leaves with leaves of Talinum paniculatum and Phyllanthus amarus
  • Mashing leaves into a pulp which was spread across the face's inflamed cheek skin
    Mashing leaves into a pulp which was spread across the face's inflamed cheek skin

Taxonomy

The basionym for Phoradendron quadrangulare is Loranthus quadrangularis, formally described by Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1820.[12] The taxon was one of many first scientifically collected by Aimé Bonpland and Alexander von Humboldt during their visit to the Republic of New Granada, mainly now known as the countries of Panamá and Colombia, in northern South America. The collection was made at a temperate elevation near Pandi and Fusagasugá.[13]

Synonyms

In March 2026, the follow synonyms were recognized for Phoradendron quadrangulare:[1]

  • Phoradendron guazumae Kunth (1820)
  • Trel. (1916) Trel. (1916)
  • Phoradendron herrerense Trel. (1940)
  • Phoradendron huricola Phoradendron antillarum f. longum
  • Trel. (1927) Phoradendron libertadanum
  • Trel. (1937) Phoradendron manatense
  • Trel. (1916) Trel. (1936)
  • Phoradendron martianum Trel. (1916)
  • Phoradendron millspaughii Phoradendron antillarum var. orientale
  • Trel. (1927) Phoradendron moringicola
  • Trel. (1929) Viscum quadrangulare
  • Trel. (1916) Trel. (1937)
  • Phoradendron petenense Trel. (1937)
  • Phoradendron quadrangulare var. avenia Phoradendron belizense
  • Hieron. ex Trel. (1916) Phoradendron quadrangulare var. gracile
  • Krug & Urb. (1897) Phoradendron randiae
  • Trel. (1936) (Bello) Britton (1924)
  • Phoradendron randiae f. longum (Trel.) Stehlé (1954)
  • Phoradendron randiae var. orientale Phoradendron cayanum
  • (Trel.) Stehlé (1954) Phoradendron rehderianum
  • Urb. (1930) Loranthus quadrangularis
  • (Kunth) DC. (1830) Trel. (1936)
  • Trel. (1916) Phoradendron rubrum var. gracile
  • (Krug & Urb.) Fawc. & Rendle (1914) Phoradendron ceibanum
  • Trel. (1927) Phoradendron salicifolium
  • (C.Presl) Eichler (1868) Trel. (1916)
  • Trel. (1940) Phoradendron tamaulipense
  • Trel. (1916) Phoradendron cocquericotanum
  • Trel. (1916) Phoradendron venezuelense
  • Loranthus viscifolius Trel. (1936)
  • Rizzini (1984) Phoradendron viscifolium
  • (Kunth) Trel. (1916) Phoradendron commutatum
  • Trel. (1916) Viscum angustifolium
  • Bertero ex Spreng. (1824) Trel. (1916)
  • DC. (1830) Viscum randiae
  • Bello (1881) Phoradendron franciscanum
  • C.Presl (1851) Viscum trigonum
  • Kunth (1820) Trel. (1937)
  • Phoradendron gaumeri Trel. (1916)
  • D.Dietr. (1839) Phoradendron gracile
  • Viscum salicifolium Viscum kunthianum
  • Phoradendron antillarum (Krug & Urb.) Trel. (1916)
  • Phoradendron zacapanum Phoradendron venezuelense var. filispicum
  • Trel. (1916) Phoradendron gracile var. ballii
  • Phoradendron townsendii Phoradendron sonanum
  • Phoradendron rusbyanum Trel. (1916)
  • Phoradendron rensonii Phoradendron paquitanum

Etymology

The genus name Phoradendron is based on the Greek phor, meaning "thief", and dendron, for "tree", alluding to the taxon's parasitism.[14]

The species name quadrangularis is New Latin based on the Latin quadrangulum, meaning "quadrangle", and the suffix -aris, serving as the suffix "-ar" in English, thus "quadrangular", referring to the taxon's quadrangular young stems.[15]

  • Phoradendron quadrangulare quadrangular stems
    Phoradendron quadrangulare quadrangular stems
  • Phoradendron quadrangulare berry-type fruits
    Phoradendron quadrangulare berry-type fruits
  • Phoradendron quadrangulare leafy stems with inflorescences
    Phoradendron quadrangulare leafy stems with inflorescences
  • Phoradendron quadrangulare on host branch of Guazuma ulmifolia
    Phoradendron quadrangulare on host branch of Guazuma ulmifolia

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Phoradendron quadrangulare (Kunth) Griseb.". United Kingdom: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60443757-2. 
  2. ↑ Nickrent, Daniel L.. "Phoradendron Nuttall. In Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA)". St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA, USA: New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press via eFloras.org. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=125099. 
  3. ↑ "Search results: Phoradendron (genus in Viscaceae)". Catalogue of Life. February 13, 2026. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/?taxonKey=6NZT. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rzedowski, Jerzy; Calderón de Rzedowski, Graciela (April 2011). "Viscaceae" (in Spanish). Flora del Bajío y de Regiones Adyacentes (Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México: Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL)) 170: 40-42. http://inecolbajio.inecol.mx/floradelbajio/documentos/fasciculos/ordinarios/Viscaceae%20170.pdf. Retrieved February 19, 2026. 
  5. ↑ Dettke, Greta Aline; Simões Caires, Claudenir (2021). "Synopsis of Dendrophthora and Phoradendron (Santalaceae) in Brazil" (in English with Portuguese abstract). Rodriguésia (Scielo Brazil) 72. doi:10.1590/2175-7860202172132. https://www.scielo.br/j/rod/a/YYn7FkfZPvpLdwscPcLy4JK/?lang=en. Retrieved March 9, 2026. 
  6. ↑ Arruda, RafaelExpression error: Unrecognized word "et". (June 2012). "Ecology of neotropical mistletoes: an important canopy-dwelling component of Brazilian ecosystems" (in English with Portuguese abstract). Acta Botanica Brasilica (Brazil: Scielo) 26 (2). doi:10.1590/S0102-33062012000200003. https://www.scielo.br/j/abb/a/NvnG8q9XRN9tD3Lqkcz4xFy/. 
  7. ↑ Santiago-Rosario, Luis Y.Expression error: Unrecognized word "et". (December 2023). "Susceptibility to parasitism by the mistletoe Phoradendron quadrangulare (Kunth) Griseb on its host Guazuma ulmifolia Lam may increase with host size". Food Webs (Netherlands: Elsevier) 37. doi:10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00327. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352249623000563?fr=RR-2&ref=pdf_download&rr=9d9c949cc9ddc0c0. Retrieved March 9, 2026. 
  8. ↑ Alvarado-Cárdenas, Leonardo O. (2010). "Viscaceae" (in Spanish). Flora del Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán (Mexico City, México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) 74. http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/barra/publicaciones/floras_tehuacan/F75_Visc.pdf. Retrieved March 11, 2026. 
  9. ↑ "Mbajor" (in Spanish). México: D.R. Biblioteca Digital de la Medicina Tradicional Mexicana. http://www.medicinatradicionalmexicana.unam.mx/apmtm/termino.php?l=3&t=mbajor. 
  10. ↑ Benítez Hippler, G G; Rebatta, J L; Altamirano, C G. "Caracterización fitoquímica preliminar de Phoradendron quadrangulare (Kunth) Griseb. (Viscaceae). Especie utilizada para tratar el cáncer en la medicina tradiciona" (in Spanish). XVIII Simposio Latinoamericano y XIII Argentino de Farmocobotánica (Argentina: Universidad Nacional de Misiones). https://www.dominguezia.org/volumen/extra/38S04/025.pdf. Retrieved March 10, 2026. 
  11. ↑ Conrad, Jim (January 18, 2019). "Juan's Toothache, Week Two". Jim Conrad. https://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/mistlet3.htm. 
  12. ↑ "Phoradendron quadrangulare". USA: National Library of Medicine. December 15, 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=1129484. 
  13. ↑ Bonpland, Aimé; von Humboldt, Alexander; Kunth, Karl Sigismund (1820). "Lorantheae. Rich. et Juss." (in Latin). Nova genera et species plantarum: quas in peregrinatione ad plagam aequinoctialem orbis novi collegerunt /descripserunt, partim adumbraverunt Amat. Bonpland et Alex. de Humboldt. 3. officina Christophori Plantini. pp. 346. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58746745. 
  14. ↑ Nickrent, Daniel L.. "Phoradendron Nuttall. In Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA)". St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA, USA: New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press via eFloras.org. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=125099. 
  15. ↑ "quadrangular adjective". Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrangular. 

Wikidata ☰ Q15384170 entry



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Biology:Phoradendron_quadrangulare&oldid=4473974"