Amyema conspicua (F.M.Bailey) Danser subsp. conspicua

Loranthaceae

Danser, B.H. (1929) Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 10: 294.

Aerial stem-parasitic shrub. Epicortical runners absent.

Leaf blades thick and fleshy, breaking along a straight line when bent back on themselves. Leaf blades about 4-8.5 x 2-4 cm, petioles about 0.2-0.6 cm long. Venation visible on the upper surface but scarcely visible on the lower surface, 3-5-veined.

Flowers green at anthesis but subsequently turning red. Flowers borne in triads, central flower sessile, lateral flowers pedicellate. Triads borne in 2-branched umbels, rays about 1-2.5 mm long on. Primary peduncles slender, about 3-9 mm long. Free calyx about 0.5-1 mm long, devoid of lobes or obscurely lobed, apex fringed with reddish hairs. Corolla about 14-25 mm long. Anthers about 1.3-2 mm long. Staminal filaments about 7-11 mm long. Disk lobed. Ovary about 1.5 mm long, base clothed in pale or white hairs. Style about 19-25 mm long, stigma +/- globular, terminal. No ovules or locules visible in the ovary.

Features not available.

Features not available.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as northern NSW. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from near sea level to 750 m. Also found in New Guinea. Frequently parasitic on Casuarinaceae and Alphitonia.

Food plant for the larval stage of the Silky Jewel, Satin Azure, Northern Purple Azure and Trident Pencilled-blue Butterflies. Braby, M. (2000).

Loranthus conspicuus F.M. Bailey, Queensland Agricultural Journal 26: 198(1911), Type: Queensland, Eidsvold, Feb. 1911, T.L. Bancroft; Holo: BRI.