Viscum combreticola, the Combretum mistletoe, is a leafless, dioecious mistletoe shrub,[2] occurring from southern to tropical Africa, in a broad zone following the Rift Valleys.[3] Though it is typically a hemiparasite of Combretum species, it may also be found on Terminalia (Combretaceae), Acacia, Croton, Diplorhynchus, Dombeya, Heteropyxis, Maytenus, Melia, Strychnos or Vangueria.[1]
| Viscum combreticola | |
|---|---|
| |
| V. combreticola on a Strychnos host | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Santalaceae |
| Genus: | Viscum |
| Species: | V. combreticola
|
| Binomial name | |
| Viscum combreticola | |
| Synonyms | |
The much-branched twigs are flattened, ribbed and divided into clear segments.[4] The brittle olive to olive-green segments exude a watery sap when broken. Their sessile fruit, usually in pairs, grow from the segment joints.[4] They are ellipsoid berries of 6-7 mm in diameter, that are warty when young[1] but smooth and orange when ripe.[2]
The species is vegetatively similar to V. anceps and artificially resembles the Asian species V. dichotomum.[1] Male inflorescences and fruit are required to separate it from V. shirense and V. cylindricum.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Roux, Dr J.P. (2003). Flora of South Africa: Viscum combreticola (family VISCACEAE). South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM).
- ^ a b c d "Viscum combreticola Engl". African Plant Database. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ^ R.M. Polhill, D. Wiens. "Viscum combreticola Engl". FZ volume:9 part:3 (2006) Viscaceae. Kew. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ^ a b Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. 1974. pp. 294–295. ISBN 0-85494-236-X.
External links
edit- Viscum diversity in southern Africa, iziko museums
Media related to Viscum combreticola at Wikimedia Commons