Plants of
South Australia
Amyema melaleucae
Loranthaceae
Tea-tree Mistletoe
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 5

Prior names

Loranthus pendulus var. parviflorus, partly

Loranthus pendulus var. melaleucae

Loranthus miraculosus var. melaleucae

Amyema leschenaultii

Loranthus melaleucae

Etymology

Amyema from the Greek 'a-' meaning not and 'myeo' meaning to initiate, referring to a new feature having been found to separate this genus from the genus Loranthus. Melaleucae from the genus melaleuca, referring to the species exclusively parasitic on Melaleuca.

Distribution and status

Found across the southern part of South Australia in coastal or near-coastal situations, exclusively parasitic on Melaleuca. Also found in Western Australia. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in Western Australia.
Herbarium regions: Nullarbor, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Semiparisitic aerial shrub with lanceolate to narrow-spathulate leaves to 45 mm long and 7 mm wide; glabrous, gradually tapering to the base and without a distinct petiole; rounded at the apex. Inflorescence with long red flowers in umbels; anthers about half the length of the free part of the filament. Flowering between November and April. Fruits are globular fruit to 8 mm diameter; red and fleshy when ripe.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between February and July. Collect fruits that are maturing, turning red and sticky. No cleaning is required if only seeds are collected. However, seeds can not be stored long term. Seeds are recalcitrant, that is they do not survive drying and freezing and can not be stored long term for ex-situ conservation. Seeds are recalcitrant and will germinate readily.