Botanical art
Prior names
Amyema pendulum ssp. pendulum
Loranthus pendulus
Dendrophthoe pendula
Common names
Drooping 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. Pendula from the Latin 'pendulus' meaning hanging, referring to its weeping habit.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and the South-east in South Australia, parasitic on Eucalyptus and less frequently on Acacia. Also found in New South Wales, and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Pendulous semiparisitic aerial shrub, glabrous except young shoots. Leaves opposite lanceolate, to 40 cm long and 15 mm wide, gradually attenuate at the base into a petiole to 40 mm long, apex usually acute, green. Inflorescence in umbels of 3-4 red flowers with the central flowers sessile. Flowering throughout the year. Fruits are ellipsoid to ovoid to 10 mm diameter, yellow-green and fleshy when ripe. This species is distinguished from the similar Amyema miquelii by the lack of individual stalks on the flowers.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds anytime throughout the year. Collect fruits that are maturing, turning yellow 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.