Biology:Viscum combreticola
| Viscum combreticola | |
|---|---|
| |
| V. combreticola on a Strychnos host | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Santalaceae |
| Genus: | Viscum |
| Species: | V. combreticola
|
| Binomial name | |
| Viscum combreticola Engl.
| |
| Synonyms | |
Viscum combreticola, the Combretum mistletoe, is a leafless, dioecious mistletoe shrub,[2] occurring from southern to tropical Africa, in a broad zone following the Rift Valleys.[3] Though it is typically a hemiparasite of Combretum species, it may also be found on Terminalia (Combretaceae), Acacia, Croton, Diplorhynchus, Dombeya, Heteropyxis, Maytenus, Melia, Strychnos or Vangueria.[1]
The much-branched twigs are flattened, ribbed and divided into clear segments.[4] The brittle olive to olive-green segments exude a watery sap when broken. Their sessile fruit, usually in pairs, grow from the segment joints.[4] They are ellipsoid berries of 6-7 mm in diameter, that are warty when young[1] but smooth and orange when ripe.[2]
The species is vegetatively similar to V. anceps and artificially resembles the Asian species V. dichotomum.[1] Male inflorescences and fruit are required to separate it from V. shirense and V. cylindricum.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Roux, Dr J.P. (2003). Flora of South Africa: Viscum combreticola (family VISCACEAE). South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM). http://plants.jstor.org/flora/flosa003600408800007.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Viscum combreticola Engl.". African Plant Database. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=123676. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ↑ R.M. Polhill, D. Wiens. "Viscum combreticola Engl.". FZ volume:9 part:3 (2006) Viscaceae. Kew. http://apps.kew.org/efloras/namedetail.do?qry=namelist&flora=fz&taxon=11952. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. 1974. pp. 294–295. ISBN 0-85494-236-X.
External links
- Viscum diversity in southern Africa, iziko museums
Wikidata ☰ Q7935896 entry
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