Muellerina bidwillii, common name Cypress-pine mistletoe,[3] is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae.[4] The species is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland.[4]
Muellerina bidwillii | |
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Muellerina bidwillii (artist F.C.Wills) | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Santalales |
Family: | Loranthaceae |
Genus: | Muellerina |
Species: | M. bidwillii
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Binomial name | |
Muellerina bidwillii | |
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Occurrence data from AVH | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Loranthus bidwillii Benth. |
Description
editM. bidwillii is an erect to spreading plant, the branches and leaves of which are smooth (or having a few scattered hairs on the inflorescence axes).[5] The leaves are linear to oblanceolate and rounded at the tip.[5] The leaf blade is from 1.5 to 3 cm long and 1.5 to 3 mm wide, with obscure venation and an obscure petiole.[5] The inflorescence a 2-flowered simple umbel on a peduncle which is from 3 to 6 mm long. The corolla in the mature bud is 20–27 mm long, and the flower has anthers 1–1.5 mm long, with the free part of filament being 8–10 mm long.[5] The pink or red fruit is pear-shaped to spherical and from 6 to 8 mm long.[5]
Ecology
editThe main hosts on which M. bidwillii grows are Callitris species, in particular Callitris glaucophylla.[3] An inventory of host plants for Muellerina bidwillii spp. is given by Downey.[6][7]
Muellerina bidwillii is not known to host any butterflies.[3]
Taxonomy
editThe species was first described by George Bentham in 1867 as Loranthus bidwillii.[1][8] It was redescribed by B.A.Barlow in 1962 as Muellerina bidwillii, with the current description of the species being that of Barlow in 1984.[1][5]
Gallery
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Haustorium on Callitris glaucophylla
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plant on Callitris glaucophylla
References
edit- ^ a b c d "APNI: Muellerina bidwillii". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Barlow, B.A. (1962) Studies in Australian Loranthaceae. I. Nomenclature and new additions. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 87(1): 53
- ^ a b c Watson, D.M. (2011) Mistletoes of Southern Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria
- ^ a b Quirico, A.L. "Muellerina bidwillii". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Barlow, B.A. in George, A.S. (ed.) (1984), Loranthaceae. Flora of Australia 22: 90, Fig. 23B, Map 102
- ^ Downey, P.O. (1998) An inventory of host species for each aerial mistletoe species (Loranthaceae and Viscaceae) in Australia. (Cunninghamia 5(3) 685-720)
- ^ Downey, P.O. (2004) A regional examination of the mistletoe host species inventory. (Cunninghamia 8(3) 354-361)
- ^ Bentham, G. (1867) Orders XLVIII. Myrtaceae- LXII. Compositae. Flora Australiensis 3: 390