Tea-tree Mistletoe
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
Display IBRA region text
Bridgewater (NCP01) | Naracoorte Coastal Plain | Least Concern |
Lucindale (NCP03) | | Least Concern |
Tintinara (NCP04) | | Near Threatened [limited habitat] |
Kangaroo Island (KAN01) | Kanmantoo | Rare (IUCN: RA d(i,ii)) [only mistletoe on KI, in M halmaturina; undercollected] |
Mount Lofty Ranges (FLB01) | Flinders Lofty Block | Rare (IUCN: RA d(i,ii)) [in Onkaparinga area] |
Southern Yorke (EYB01) | Eyre Yorke Block | Least Concern |
St Vincent (EYB02) | | Least Concern |
Eyre Hills (EYB03) | | Least Concern |
Talia (EYB04) | | Least Concern |
Eyre Mallee (EYB05) | | Least Concern |
Murray Mallee (MDD02) | Murray Darling Depression | Rare (IUCN: RA d(i)) [3 hosts] |
Murray Lakes and Coorong (MDD03) | | Least Concern |
Gawler Volcanics (GAW02) | Gawler | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) |
Gawler Lakes (GAW03) | | Rare (IUCN: RA d(ii)) |
Yellabinna (GVD06) | Great Victoria Desert | Least Concern |
Nullarbor Plain (NUL02) | Nullarbor | Least Concern |
Yalata (NUL03) | | Least Concern |
Hampton (HAM01) | Hampton | Least Concern |
3 of 4 subregions | Naracoorte Coastal Plain | Least Concern , Near Threatened |
Kangaroo Island (KAN01) | Kanmantoo | Rare (IUCN: RA d(i,ii)) [only mistletoe on KI, in M halmaturina; undercollected] |
Mount Lofty Ranges (FLB01) | Flinders Lofty Block | Rare (IUCN: RA d(i,ii)) [in Onkaparinga area] |
5 of 5 subregions | Eyre Yorke Block | Least Concern |
2 of 6 subregions | Murray Darling Depression | Least Concern , Rare |
2 of 8 subregions | Gawler | Rare |
Yellabinna (GVD06) | Great Victoria Desert | Least Concern |
2 of 3 subregions | Nullarbor | Least Concern |
Hampton (HAM01) | Hampton | Least Concern |
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
Common names
Tea-tree Mistletoe
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
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.