Osyris alba
Encyclopedia
Osyris alba, common name Osyris, is a small perennial plant in the genus Osyris
belonging to the Santalaceae
family.
) broom-like shrub reaching 30–150 cm (11.8–59.1 ) in height. The stem is woody, brown or dark green, sometimes creeping on the ground. This plant has numerous longitudinally striated branches, green when young. The leaves are linear, lanceolate, coriaceous, persistent, although sometimes deciduous. They are about 15–35 mm (0.590551181102362–1.4 ) long and 1–5 mm (0.0393700787401575–0.196850393700787 ) wide. They are produced during the winter while in summer they are almost totally absent. The flowers are hermaphroditic
or unisexual, in the latter case, the male and female flowers show differences associated with the timing of pollination. They are very small (1 or 2 mm), with four yellow-green tepals and four stamens. Flowering period extends from March and June. The fruits are small red fleshy drupes, 4–6 mm (0.15748031496063–0.236220472440945 ) in diameter. Their roots form haustoria
that tap into the roots of nearby plants and extract their sap.
Osyris
Osyris is a genus of plants in the family, Santalaceae, one of the many genera known as Sandalwoods.The species of this genus are mostly hemi-parasitic, meaning that although they can survive and grow by themselves, they will also opportunistically tap into the root systems of nearby plants and...
belonging to the Santalaceae
Santalaceae
Santalaceae is a widely distributed family of flowering plants which, like other members of Santalales, are partially parasitic on other plants...
family.
Description
Osyris alba is a semi-parasitic (hemiparasiticParasitic plant
A parasitic plant is one that derives some or all of its sustenance from another plant. About 4,100 species in approximately 19 families of flowering plants are known. Parasitic plants have a modified root, the haustorium, that penetrates the host plant and connects to the xylem, phloem, or...
) broom-like shrub reaching 30–150 cm (11.8–59.1 ) in height. The stem is woody, brown or dark green, sometimes creeping on the ground. This plant has numerous longitudinally striated branches, green when young. The leaves are linear, lanceolate, coriaceous, persistent, although sometimes deciduous. They are about 15–35 mm (0.590551181102362–1.4 ) long and 1–5 mm (0.0393700787401575–0.196850393700787 ) wide. They are produced during the winter while in summer they are almost totally absent. The flowers are hermaphroditic
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
or unisexual, in the latter case, the male and female flowers show differences associated with the timing of pollination. They are very small (1 or 2 mm), with four yellow-green tepals and four stamens. Flowering period extends from March and June. The fruits are small red fleshy drupes, 4–6 mm (0.15748031496063–0.236220472440945 ) in diameter. Their roots form haustoria
Haustorium
In botany, a haustorium is the appendage or portion of a parasitic fungus or of the root of a parasitic plant that penetrates the host's tissue and draws nutrients from it. Haustoria do not penetrate the host's cell membranes.Fungi in all major divisions form haustoria...
that tap into the roots of nearby plants and extract their sap.