Muellerina myrtifolia | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Santalales |
Family: | Loranthaceae |
Genus: | Muellerina |
Species: | M. myrtifolia
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Binomial name | |
Muellerina myrtifolia | |
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Occurrence data from AVH | |
Synonyms [3] | |
Furcilla myrtifolia (
A.Cunn. ex
Benth.)
Tiegh. |
Muellerina myrtifolia, common name myrtle-leaved mistletoe, [4] is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae. [5] The species is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland. [5]
M. myrtifolia is a rainforest mistletoe with small ovate, sessile leaves with a shiny upper surface and a dull lower surface, and measuring 15–20 mm long. [6] New growth is russet-coloured. [4] The inflorescence is a paired umbel which hangs from the foliage on long stalks, with each flower being a long red and yellow or red and white tube with dark, projecting stamens. [4] [6] The oval shaped fruit are a dull green which ripens to a brownish-red, and have a prominent flower-scars. [4]
The main hosts on which M. myrtifolia grows are vines, in particular, Wonga vine ( Pandorea pandorana), Jasminum species, and Parsonsia species. [4] An inventory of host plants for Muellerina myrtifolia is given by Downey. [7] [8]
Muellerina myrtifolia is not known to host any butterflies. [4]
The species was first described by George Bentham in 1867 as Loranthus myrtifolius. [1] [9] It was redescribed by B.A.Barlow in 1962 as Muellerina myrtifolia, with the current description of the species being that of Barlow in 1984. [1] [10]