''Amyema biniflora'', the twin-flower mistletoe,
[ is a species of ]flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
within the genus ''Amyema
''Amyema'' is a genus of semi- parasitic shrubs (mistletoes) which occur in Malesia and Australia.
Etymology
''Amyema'' derives from the Greek: ''a'' (negative), and ''myeo'' (I initiate), referring to the genus being previously unrecognised.
D ...
'', an epiphytic
An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae
Loranthaceae, commonly known as the showy mistletoes, is a family of flowering plants. It consists of about 75 genera and 1,000 species of woody plants, many of them hemiparasites. The three terrestrial species are ''Nuytsia floribunda'' (the W ...
endemic to Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia.[
]
Type species
Type: Endeavour R., Banks & Solander, 1770 (BM, holotype
A holotype is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism, known to have been used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of several ...
; MEL; NSW).[
]
Description
''A. biniflora'' is a pendulous mistletoe, with flat[ leaves up 15 cm long and 1 cm wide.][ Its inflorescence is an ]umbel
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...
of two or dyads (flowering in groups of two).[ The corolla is smooth and slender and green at maturity.][ The fruit is ovoid and the flower bract does not enlarge as the fruit matures.][ The buds and fruit are smooth.][
]
Ecology
''A. biniflora'' is found on bloodwood
Bloodwood is a common name for several unrelated trees, including:
* '' Baloghia inophylla'' (Brush or Scrub bloodwood), '' Baloghia marmorata'' (Marbled bloodwood), '' Baloghia parviflora'' (Small-flowered bloodwood), all found in Australia
* ' ...
s and spotted gums[ (]eucalypts
Eucalypt is a descriptive name for woody plants with capsule fruiting bodies belonging to seven closely related genera (of the tribe Eucalypteae) found across Australasia:
''Eucalyptus'', ''Corymbia'', ''Angophora'', ''Stockwellia'', ''Allosynca ...
).[
]
Taxonomy
''A. biniflora'' was first described by Barlow in 1966.[
]
See also
North Queensland Plants: ''Amyema biniflora'' images
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15378148
biniflora
Flora of Queensland
Parasitic plants
Epiphytes
Taxa named by Bryan Alwyn Barlow