Amyema friesiana (K.Schum.) Danser

Loranthaceae

Danser, B.H. (1929) Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 10: 295.

Aerial stem-parasitic shrub. Epicortical runners present.

Leaf blades rather thick and brittle, cracking along a straight line when bent back on themselves. Leaf blades about 8.5-16 x 4-10 cm, petioles about. 1-2.5 cm long. Venation variable, often with 5-9 veins radiating from the base.

Flowers borne in triads, each flower sessile. Triads in 5-8-rayed umbels. Rays of umbels about 5-10 mm long. Primary peduncle about 18-30 mm long, sometimes enlarged at the apex. Calyx about 0.7-1 mm long, without lobes. Corolla about 28-35 mm long, clothed in short ferruginous hairs. Anthers about 2.5-3 mm long. Ovary about 2.5 mm long, clothed in short ferruginous hairs. Style about 30 mm long, stigma small, globular.

Fruits about 10 mm long with calyx remnants persist at the apex. Radicle equipped with long finger-like processes which form part of the haustorium.

Features not available.

Occurs in CYP. Known on from a few collections in the Lockerbie and Claudie River areas. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 100 m. Parasitic on rain forest and monsoon forest trees and other mistletoes. Also found much more frequently in New Guinea.

Loranthus friesianus K. Schum., Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Sudsee Nachtr. : 258(1905), Type: New Guinea, Stephansort, 22 Dec. 1898, Nyman 41; Iso: WRSL.