Biology:Viscum combreticola

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Short description: Species of shrub

Viscum combreticola
Viscum combreticola, b, Seringveld.jpg
V. combreticola on a Strychnos host
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Santalaceae
Genus: Viscum
Species:
V. combreticola
Binomial name
Viscum combreticola
Engl.
Synonyms
  • V. dichotomum sensu Harv.[1]
  • V. ugandense Sprague 1911[2]
  • V. hildebrandtii auct. sensu Balle

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. 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. 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. 
  3. 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. 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