''Amyema'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of semi- parasitic shrubs (

mistletoe Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant. ...

s) which occur in

Malesia Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom. It has been given different definitions. The ...

and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Etymology

''Amyema'' derives from the Greek: ''a'' (negative), and ''myeo'' (I initiate), referring to the genus being previously unrecognised.

Description

Hamilton & Barlow describe the haustorial structures of most Australian ''Amyemas'' as being ball-like, with some exceptions.

Species

There are approximately 90 species including the following: * ''

Amyema arthrocaulis ''Amyema arthrocaulis'' is a species of mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae native to New Guinea. References External links''Amyema arthrocaulis'' occurrence datafrom GBIF The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an internatio ...

'' Barlow * '' Amyema artensis'' (Mont.) Dan. (indigenous to

Upolu Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximatel ...

and Savai'i, known as ''tapuna''.) * ''

Amyema benthamii ''Amyema benthamii'', commonly known as the twin-leaved mistletoe or Bentham's mistletoe, is a species of flowering plant, an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae native to Western Australia and the Northern Territory of Aust ...

'' (Blakely) Danser * '' Amyema betchei'' (Blakely) Danser * '' Amyema bifurcata'' (Benth.) Tiegh. * ''

Amyema biniflora ''Amyema biniflora'', the twin-flower mistletoe, is a species of flowering plant within the genus ''Amyema'', an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia. Type species Type: Endeavour R., Banks ...

'' Barlow * '' Amyema brassii'' Barlow * '' Amyema brevipes'' (Tiegh.) Danser * '' Amyema cambagei'' (Blakely) Danser * '' Amyema congener'' (Sieber ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Tiegh. * '' Amyema conspicua'' (F.M.Bailey) Danser * '' Amyema dolichopoda'' Barlow * '' Amyema duurenii'' Barlow * '' Amyema eburna'' (Barlow) Barlow * '' Amyema fitzgeraldii'' (Blakely) Danser - pincushion mistletoe * ''

Amyema gaudichaudii ''Amyema gaudichaudii'', commonly known as melaleuca mistletoe, is a plant in the Family (biology), family Loranthaceae Endemism, endemic to eastern Australia. Like other mistletoes, it is a shrubby, woody, wikt:aerial, aerial Parasitic plant#Cla ...

'' (DC.) Tiegh. * ''

Amyema gibberula '' Amyema gibberula'' is an aerial hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae native to Australia and found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and South Australia. Description It flowers in dyads (groups of two flowers) and usuall ...

'' (Tate) Danser * '' Amyema glabra'' (Domin) Danser * ''

Amyema haematodes ''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 ...

'' (O.Schwarz) Danser * '' Amyema herbertiana'' Barlow * ''

Amyema hilliana ''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 ...

'' (Blakely) Danser * ''

Amyema linophylla ''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 ...

'' (Fenzl) Tiegh. * ''

Amyema lisae '' Amyema lisae'', is a species of flowering plant, an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae first discovered in 2017 at Balinsasayao - Twin Lakes Natural Park, in the island of Negros, Philippines. ''Amyema lisae'' differs d ...

'' Pelser & Barcelona * '' Amyema lucasii'' (Blakely) Danser * ''

Amyema mackayensis ''Amyema mackayensis'', the mangrove mistletoe, is a species of flowering plant within the genus '' Amyema'', an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae native to Australia, and found along its northern and eastern coasts in Ne ...

'' (Blakely) Danser * ''

Amyema maidenii ''Amyema maidenii'' is a species of flowering plant within the genus '' Amyema'', an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae native to Australia and found Australia-wide in the inland (but not in Victoria nor Tasmania). File:Amy ...

'' (Blakely) Barlow * ''

Amyema melaleucae ''Amyema melaleucae'', also known as the tea-tree mistletoe, is a species of flowering plant within the genus '' Amyema'', an epiphytic hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae native to Australia and found in Western Australia and South A ...

'' (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tiegh. * '' Amyema microphylla'' Barlow * '' Amyema miquelii'' (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tiegh. - stalked mistletoe * '' Amyema miraculosa'' (Miq.) Tiegh. * '' Amyema nestor'' (S.Moore) Danser *'' Amyema nickrentii'' Barcelona & Pelser * '' Amyema pendula'' (Sieber ex Spreng.) Tiegh. - drooping mistletoe * ''

Amyema preissii ''Amyema preissii'', commonly known as wireleaf mistletoe, is a species of mistletoe, an epiphytic, hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae. It is native to Australia where it has been recorded from all mainland states. The flowers are ...

'' (Miq.) Tiegh. - wireleaf mistletoe * '' Amyema quandang'' (Lindl.) Tiegh. * ''

Amyema quaternifolia ''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 ...

'' Barlow * '' Amyema queenslandica'' (Blakely) Danser * ''

Amyema sanguinea ''Amyema sanguinea'' is an aerial hemiparasitic shrub within the genus '' Amyema'', in the family Loranthaceae and native to Australia, where it is found in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Austral ...

'' (F.Muell.) Danser * '' Amyema seemeniana'' (K.Schum.) Danser * '' Amyema subcapitata'' Barlow * '' Amyema tetraflora'' (Barlow) Barlow * ''

Amyema tetrapetala ''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 ...

'' (Danser) Barlow * ''

Amyema thalassia ''Amyema thalassia'' is a species of mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae native to Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It was first described in 1962 by Bryan Alwyn Barlow. Description The leaves are rounded and fleshy, with an obtu ...

'' Barlow * ''

Amyema tridactyla ''Amyema tridactyla'' is a species of mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae native to the Northern Territory, first described by Bryan Alwyn Barlow Bryan Alwyn Barlow (born 1933) is an Australian botanist. He was a member of Committee of the "F ...

'' Barlow * '' Amyema tristis'' (Zoll.) Tiegh. * '' Amyema verticillata'' (Merr.) Danser * '' Amyema villiflora'' (Domin) Barlow * '' Amyema whitei'' (Blakely) Danser

Faunal associations

The

mistletoebird The mistletoebird (''Dicaeum hirundinaceum''), also known as the mistletoe flowerpecker, is a species of flowerpecker native to most of Australia (though absent from Tasmania and the driest desert areas) and also to the eastern Maluku Islands of ...

is known to consume the fruit of ''Amyema quandang'' as well as other mistletoe species from which its name is derived. Larvae of the butterfly genus ''

Delias ''Delias'' is a genus of butterflies. There are about 250 species of the genus ''Delias'', found in South Asia and Australia. The genus is considered to have its evolutionary origins in the Australian region.Braby, M.F. and N.E. Pierce. 2006. Sy ...

'' often use various ''Amyema'' species as larval food plants. In doing so, the adults acquire a taste that is unpalatable to predators.

Uses

The fruit of ''Amyema'' species is high in protein, lipids, and carbohydrates, and was eaten by the Ngunnawal people.Ngunnawal Elders & their families. 2014. Ngunnawal Plant Use, ACT Government,

References

External links

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q246382 Parasitic plants Loranthaceae genera Taxa named by Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem Plants described in 1895