Peraxilla tetrapetala

Peraxilla tetrapetala
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Loranthaceae
Genus: Peraxilla
Species: P. tetrapetala
Binomial name
Peraxilla tetrapetala
Tiegh.

Peraxilla tetrapetala, or red mistletoe, is an endemic parasitic plant in New Zealand. The Maori names for the plant are pikirangi, pirirangi and roeroe.

It is a shrub up to one metre tall with glabrous leaves. The flowers are 4-5 mm long, bright red to orange in colour which split open to the base. Red mistletoe is found as a parasitic plant on Quintinia and Nothofagus species.[1]

Conservation

The plant is highly palatable to the introduced Common Brushtail Possum resulting in a threat to the plant population.

Red mistletoe is listed as in "Gradual Decline" in the New Zealand Threat Classification System and relies on conservation measures to halt the decline.[2]

References

  1. Allan, H. H. (1982). Flora of New Zealand I. Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Resear. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  2. Rod Hitchmough, Leigh Bull and Pam Cromarty (compilers). New Zealand Threat Classification System lists - 2005. Wellington: Department of Conservation. ISBN 0-478-14128-9. Retrieved 2009-04-17.

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, October 22, 2013. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.