| Viscum combreticola | |
|---|---|
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| V. combreticola on a Strychnos host | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Santalaceae |
| Genus: | Viscum |
| Species: | V. combreticola |
| Binomial name | |
| Viscum combreticola Engl. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Viscum combreticola, the Combretum mistletoe, is a leafless, dioecious mistletoe shrub, occurring from southern to tropical Africa, in a broad zone following the Rift Valleys. 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.
The much-branched twigs are flattened, ribbed and divided into clear segments. The brittle olive to olive-green segments exude a watery sap when broken. Their sessile fruit, usually in pairs, grow from the segment joints. They are ellipsoid berries of 6-7 mm in diameter, that are warty when young but smooth and orange when ripe.
The species is vegetatively similar to V. anceps and artificially resembles the Asian species V. dichotomum. Male inflorescences and fruit are required to separate it from V. shirense and V. cylindricum.
References
- ^ Roux, Dr J.P. (2003). Flora of South Africa: Viscum combreticola (family VISCACEAE). South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM).
- ^ "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.
- ^ Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. 1974. pp. 294–295. ISBN 0-85494-236-X.
External links
- Viscum diversity in southern Africa, iziko museums
Media related to Viscum combreticola at Wikimedia Commons
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Viscum combreticola | |