Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Viscum ovalifolium DC.


Mistletoe
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Fruit. © CSIRO
Leaves, Fruit. © CSIRO
Leaves, Fruit. © CSIRO
Seedling. © CSIRO
Family

Candolle, A.P. de (1830) Prodromus 4: 278. Type: Malaysia, Penang, Wallich 489; Holo: K; Iso: BM.

Stem

Epicortical runners absent.

Leaves

Leaf blades rather brittle, cracking along a straight line went bent back on themselves. Leaf blades about 2-6.7 x 1.5-3 cm, petioles about 0.2-0.5 cm. Leaf blades 3-veined, the venation more prominent on the upper surface.

Flowers

Flowers produced in cymes, the central flower being female. Male flowers: Flowers about 2-3 mm diam. Anthers sessile, 8-10 locular up to 0.5 mm diam. Female flowers: Flowers about 2 mm diam. Tepals about 1-1.5 x 1 mm. Ovary (hypanthium) about 2.5 mm long. Style absent. Stigma sessile.

Fruit

Fruits somewhat translucent, globular, about 6-8 mm diam, surface somewhat warted before maturity. Perianth lobes not persistent at the apex. Seeds green, flattened, about 5-6 x 5-6 mm. Seeds immersed in a sticky, gelatinous mucilage. Testa transparent to translucent. Endosperm green, embryo darker green, lateral, about 3 x 0.8 mm, cotyledons about 1 mm long.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Occurs in WA, CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 400 m. Usually grows in coastal vine thickets and rain forest.

Natural History & Notes

Grows as a parasite on a variety of rain forest and monsoon forest plants.

Synonyms
Viscum pedunculatum Barlow, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales 87: 58(1962), Type: Queensland, Ellis Beach near Cairns; 12 Aug. 1960, B.A. Barlow 128; Holo: BRI.
RFK Code
6038
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