Plants of
South Australia
Amyema preissii
Loranthaceae
Wire-leaf Mistletoe
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Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
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Oodnadatta
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Keith
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 11

Prior names

Amyema scoparia

Loranthus scoparius

Loranthus linophyllus var. preissii

Loranthus preissii

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. Preissii named after Johann August Ludwig Preiss (1811 - 1883), a German botanist and plant collector in Western Australia.

Distribution and status

Found scattered across South Australia except on Kangaroo Island, parasitic on Acacia and occasionally on Senna, in sclerophyll forest and woodland. Also found in all mainland states. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Erect or spreading semiparisitic aerial shrub, glabrous. Leaves terete, to 8 cm long and 2.5 mm diameter, apex acute or rounded, green, sessile. Inflorescence in umbels of 3 red flowers with the central flower sessile. Flowering between December and May. Fruits are globose to 10 mm diameter, white or pink and fleshy when ripe.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between February and July. Collect fruits that are maturing, turning white or pinkish 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.