Dendrophthoe glabrescens
(Blakely) Barlow
Orange Mistletoe
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Summary
Source: WikipediaDendrophthoe glabrescens, commonly known as smooth mistletoe or orange mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic plant of the mistletoe family Loranthaceae, found in eastern and northern Australia. It flowers from October to January. The flowers are tubular, with a green base, but where the tube splits open, it displays orange and bright red.
Description
A plant which grows attached to other plants. It is spreading and hangs down. The leaves are leathery and without hairs. The leaves are 3-20 cm long. The flowers occur in clusters of 4-8. There can be up to 20 flowers in a cluster. The flowers are yellow to orange and 2-5 cm long. They are inflated in the middle and curved and split on the inward curving side. There are 5 petals joined to above the midpoint. The fruit is yellow to pink and a berry. It is 1-1.5 cm long.
Edible Uses
The fruit is eaten.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows on eucalypts and paperbarks. In tropical Queensland it grows between sea level and 900 m altitude.
Where It Grows
Australia*, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG,
Notes
There are about 30 Dendrophthoe species. They are in the tropics.
Synonyms
References (9)
- Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 273
- Hunter, J. T. & Sheringham, P., 2006, Vegetation and Floristics of Melville Range Nature Reserve. A Report to the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service. p 171
- Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 62
- Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 78
- Melzer, R., & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 57
Show all 9 references Hide references
- Milson, J., 2000, Trees and Shrubs of north-west Queensland. DPI p 93
- Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 285
- Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 579
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
