Dendromyza reinwardtiana (Blume ex Korth.) Danser

Danser, B.H. (1940) Nova Guinea 4: 133.

Climbing Mistletoe

Two types or stems (twigs) are produced: 1. Non twining stems with leaves. 2. Twining stems with haustoria and sessile scale leaves about 1 mm long.

Leaf blades brittle, breaking on a straight line when bent back on themselves. Leaf blades very variable in size and arrangement, about 2-8 x 0.7-4.5 cm, petioles about 0.2-0.8 cm long. Leaf blades 3-5-veined with the veins radiating from the base.

Male flowers: Inflorescence 1-3 flowered. Flowers about 1-1.8 mm diam. Perianth lobes about 1 mm long. Anthers about 0.3-0.5 x 0.5-0.7 mm. Female flowers: Flowers +/- sessile. Perianth tube about 1.5 mm long, lobes triangular, about 0.6-0.7 mm long.

Fruits about 5.5-8.5 x 5-5.5 mm, tepals persistent at the apex. Endocarp about 6 x 3.5 mm. Seeds obpyriform, about 4-4.5 x 2-2.5 mm. Vascular strands and gelatinous material attached to the narrow end. Endosperm pale green. Embryo darker green, about 2.5-3 x 0.3- 0.4 mm. Cotyledons much narrower than the radicle. Cotyledons fused together, separate cotyledons not obvious.

Features not available.

Occurs in NT and CYP, in the NT recorded from the Tiwi Islands. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 250 m.

A hemiparasite producing numerous haustoria from stems or runners. Frequently found on various species of Ficus.