''Psittacanthus'', also parrot-flower, is a
plant
Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...
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 ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
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 ...
. It is a type of
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.
...
native from central Mexico southwards to Central America and parts of South America.
[Vázquez Collazo, I. & Geils, B.W. 2002. ]
It differs from most other Loranthaceae genera by its large flowers and bulky haustorial connections to its host, and by its large fruits.
[ Its flowers frequently "light up the host tree in brilliant hues of red or red and yellow".][
]
Life cycle
From inoculation of a branch with the seed to production of new seed on the plant requires about five years.[
Psittacanthus is dispersed by birds feeding on fruits and defecating on
branches. Once the mistletoe is established, it flowers yearly.][ A five-year study of
'' Psittacanthus calyculatus'' on '']Pinus douglasiana
''Pinus douglasiana'' is a species of evergreen conifer in the family Pinaceae.
It is found only in Mexico.
A common name is Douglas pine, but that name is often applied to the more widespread species ''Pseudotsuga menziesii'' which is also know ...
'' found that only five months after the sticky seed has inoculated the host tree, are the first true leaves produced.[
In the May of the fourth year after infection, the shoots start to produce flower bud full flowering and pollination occurring in November and December.][ (Hummingbirds and passerines are thought to be the pollinators.][) Fruit maturation takes about a year and occurs from November to February of the fifth year. The long life cycle means that infestations may be relatively easily controlled when trees are to be harvested for forestry.][
]
Accepted species
Etymology
''Psittacanthos'' comes from the Greek ''psittakos'' (parrot), and the Greek ''anthos'' (flower), possibly chosen, according to Don,[ because of the bright colours.
]
References
External links
*
Distribution of Psittacanthus sonorae: http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=Psittacanthus+sonorae
Loranthaceae genera
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Taxa named by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius
{{Santalales-stub