Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae: Santalales

Loranthaceae - Showy mistletoe family

Polhill, R.M. & Wiens, D. (1998) Mistletoes of Africa Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Polhill, R.M. & Wiens, D. (2006) Loranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3)

Description of the family

Shrubs, hemiparasitic on the branches of woody dicotyledons, attached by woody haustoria, with or without surface runners producing secondary haustoria. Stems brittle, not articulated. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate or opposite, rarely whorled, simple. Flowers bisexual, 4-5-merous, borne singly or in racemes, umbels or heads. Calyx fused, often a low rim. Corolla usually large and colourful, often red and yellow. Petals free or united into a tube. Ovary inferior. Fruit a 1-seeded berry.

Worldwide: 68 genera and 900 species in tropical and temperate areas.

Mozambique: 15 genera and 55 taxa.

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Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Actinanthella BalleDescription, Image
Agelanthus Tiegh.Description
Englerina Tiegh.Description
Erianthemum Tiegh.Description
Globimetula Tiegh.Description
Helixanthera Lour.Description
Oliverella Tiegh.Description
Oncella Tiegh.Description
Oncocalyx Tiegh.Description
Pedistylis WiensDescription
Phragmanthera Tiegh.Description
Plicosepalus Tiegh.Description, Image
Spragueanella BalleDescription
Tapinanthus (Blume) Rchb.Description, Image
Vanwykia WiensDescription

Other sources of information about Loranthaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Loranthaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Loranthaceae
Flora of Malawi: Loranthaceae
Flora of Zambia: Loranthaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Loranthaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Loranthaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Loranthaceae
Wikipedia: Loranthaceae


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-23

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2023). Flora of Mozambique: Family page: Loranthaceae.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=125, retrieved 31 March 2023

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