Dendrophthoe vitellina
Encyclopedia
Dendrophthoe vitellina, commonly known as Long-flowered- or Apostle Mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic plant of the Loranthaceae
family of mistletoe
s. The genus Dendrophthoe comprises about 31 species spread across tropical Africa
, Asia
, and Australia
. Despite being collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in 1788, and depicted in Banks' Florilegium
, it was not until 1860 that it was described by Ferdinand von Mueller
as Loranthus vitellinus after being collected near Ipswich, and renamed by Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem in 1895.
The similar-looking smooth-flowered mistletoe (D. glabrescens) has smooth flowers and leaves broader than 3 cm (1.4 in) in width, and is found west of the Great Dividing Range
.
In Victoria it occurs to the east of Genoa
in East Gippsland
.
It generally grows on trees of the family Myrtaceae in open sclerophyll
forest, but also on Eucalyptus grandis
in forest on the fringes of rainforest
.
, Angophora
and Melaleuca
) have been recorded as host plants for Dendrophthoe vitellina, and in addition, a number of exotic species also. It has been recorded on an exotic plane tree, Platanus × acerifolia. Growing on a small red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera
) is hazardous for the host species.
Dendrophthoe vitellina is the main host plant for caterpillars of the marbled line blue butterfly (Erysichton palmyra), while caterpillars of other butterfly species the black jezebel (Delias nigrina
), red-banded jezebel (D. mysis
), narcissus jewel (Hypochrysops narcissus
), silky jewel (H. digglesii), dull oakblue (Arhopala centaurus), black-spotted flash (Hypolycaena phorbas
), trident pencil-blue (Candalides margarita), dark purple azure (Ogyris abrota), golden azure (O. ianthis
), orange-tipped azure (O. iphis), sapphire azure (O. aenone), southern purple azure (O. genoveva
) and northern purple azure (O. zosine
) also eat the plant. The fleshy fruit is consumed by the brushtail possum
(Trichosurus vulpecula).
The seed immediately begins to germinate and soon penetrates the vascular system of the tree and creates a physiological connection with the ylem] of the new host. From that point, the seedling begins to obtain water and mineral nutrients from the host.
Loranthaceae
Loranthaceae is a family of flowering plants, which has been universally recognized by taxonomists. It consists of about 75 genera and 1,000 species of woody plants, many of them hemi-parasites, all of them except three having the mistletoe habit...
family of mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
s. The genus Dendrophthoe comprises about 31 species spread across tropical Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Despite being collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in 1788, and depicted in Banks' Florilegium
Banks' Florilegium
Banks' Florilegium is a collection of copperplate engravings of plants collected by Sir Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander while they accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyage around the world between 1768 and 1771...
, it was not until 1860 that it was described by Ferdinand von Mueller
Ferdinand von Mueller
Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist.-Early life:...
as Loranthus vitellinus after being collected near Ipswich, and renamed by Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem in 1895.
Description
It grows as shrubby plant, with either a spreading or pendant (drooping) habit, from a tree branch or trunk. It has external roots, and hairy new growth maturing to smooth branches and foliage. The leaves are spear- or oval-shaped with a blunt apex, and measure 4–16 cm (1.6–6.4 in) long and 0.6–3 cm (0.2–1.4 in) wide. The inflorescences are composed of 5 to 20 smaller flowers. The flowers are generally yellow or orange with red tips, though some northern populations have redder flowers. They are covered in a fine fur. Flowering is followed by the development of an egg-shaped fruit 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) long and red to yellow in colour, which contains a single seed in a sticky coating.The similar-looking smooth-flowered mistletoe (D. glabrescens) has smooth flowers and leaves broader than 3 cm (1.4 in) in width, and is found west of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
.
Distribution and habitat
The range is from far north Queensland along the east coast of Australia through New South Wales and into Victoria. In northern New South Wales, it extends inland to the Nandewar RangeNandewar Range
The Nandewar Range is a mountain range east of Narrabri in New South Wales, Australia. John Oxley was the first European to see the range in 1818 as he explored the New South Wales Northern Tablelands....
In Victoria it occurs to the east of Genoa
Genoa, Victoria
Genoa is a town in Eastern Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is close to the New South Wales border where the Princes Highway crosses the Genoa river. The town is an important access point to the Croajingolong National Park...
in East Gippsland
East Gippsland
East Gippsland is the eastern region of Gippsland, Australia covering 31,740 square kilometres of Victoria. It has a population of 80,114....
.
It generally grows on trees of the family Myrtaceae in open sclerophyll
Sclerophyll
Sclerophyll is the term for a type of vegetation that has hard leaves and short internodes . The word comes from the Greek sclero and phyllon ....
forest, but also on Eucalyptus grandis
Eucalyptus grandis
Eucalyptus grandis, commonly known as the Flooded gum or Rose gum, is a tall tree with smooth bark, rough at the base fibrous or flaky, grey to grey-brown...
in forest on the fringes of rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
.
Ecology
At least 66 native plant species from 16 families (predominantly the genera EucalyptusEucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
, Angophora
Angophora
Angophora is a genus of ten species of trees or large shrubs in the myrtle family , native to eastern Australia. It is closely related to Corymbia and Eucalyptus, and all three are often referred to as "eucalypts". The differences are that Angophora have opposite leaves rather than alternate, and...
and Melaleuca
Melaleuca
Melaleuca is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae known for its natural soothing and cleansing properties. There are well over 200 recognised species, most of which are endemic to Australia...
) have been recorded as host plants for Dendrophthoe vitellina, and in addition, a number of exotic species also. It has been recorded on an exotic plane tree, Platanus × acerifolia. Growing on a small red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera
Corymbia gummifera
Corymbia gummifera, commonly known as Red Bloodwood, is a hardwood tree native to eastern Australia.-Description:It usually grows as a tree, but may take the form of a mallee in very poor soils. As a tree it typically grows to a height of 20 to 34 metres and a trunk diameter of one metre dbh....
) is hazardous for the host species.
Dendrophthoe vitellina is the main host plant for caterpillars of the marbled line blue butterfly (Erysichton palmyra), while caterpillars of other butterfly species the black jezebel (Delias nigrina
Delias nigrina
The Black Jezebel or Common Jezabel is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found along the eastern seaboard of Australia, from Queensland, through New South Wales to Victoria.The wingspan is 40 mm....
), red-banded jezebel (D. mysis
Delias mysis
The Union Jack or Red-banded jezebel is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is endemic to Australia and neighbouring islands. The common name is a reference to the flag of the British Empire...
), narcissus jewel (Hypochrysops narcissus
Hypochrysops narcissus
Hypochrysops narcissus, commonly known as the narcissus jewel, is a member of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies....
), silky jewel (H. digglesii), dull oakblue (Arhopala centaurus), black-spotted flash (Hypolycaena phorbas
Hypolycaena phorbas
Hypolycaena phorbas is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Waigeo, Biak, Roon Island, mainland New Guinea and various outlyingislands as well as Australia....
), trident pencil-blue (Candalides margarita), dark purple azure (Ogyris abrota), golden azure (O. ianthis
Ogyris ianthis
Ogyris ianthis, commonly known as the Golden azure or Sydney azure, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is an uncommon species found in localised areas around Sydney and northern New South Wales and into southern Queensland. It inhabits dry sclerophyll forest and open woodland on sandstone...
), orange-tipped azure (O. iphis), sapphire azure (O. aenone), southern purple azure (O. genoveva
Ogyris genoveva
The Genoveva Azure or Southern Purple Azure is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Australia.The wingspan is about 50 mm...
) and northern purple azure (O. zosine
Ogyris zosine
The Northern purple azure is a member of the family Lycaenidae. Their wingspan is 43-47mm. The larvae feed upon various species in the mistletoe family. As with many Lycaenidae, sugar ants attend the larvae. Mature larvae have pinkish-grey bodies with dark purplish-red spots....
) also eat the plant. The fleshy fruit is consumed by the brushtail possum
Brushtail possum
The brushtail possums are the members of the genus, Trichosurus, a genus of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family.It contains the following species:*Northern Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus arnhemensis...
(Trichosurus vulpecula).
The seed immediately begins to germinate and soon penetrates the vascular system of the tree and creates a physiological connection with the ylem] of the new host. From that point, the seedling begins to obtain water and mineral nutrients from the host.