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Amyema plicatula

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Amyema plicatula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Loranthaceae
Genus: Amyema
Species:
A. plicatula
Binomial name
Amyema plicatula
Synonyms[4]

Amyema angularis Barlow
Amyema cephalanthera Danser
Amyema duurenii Barlow
Amyema obovata Danser
Amyema ovariosa Danser
Amyema pentactis Danser
Amyema scandens subsp. plicatula (K.Krause) Barlow
Loranthus plicatulus K.Krause

Amyema plicatula is a species of hemi-parasitic shrub found in the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, New South Wales[4] and Queensland.[5][6]

Description

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It is an aeria,l stem-parasitic shrub, with short epicortical runners. The leaves, which are usually opposite, are elliptic to obovate, and about 5.5-11 cm by 3-8 cm, with no obvious venation. They sometimes occur in whorls of 3 to 4, on short stalks which are 0.4-0.8 cm long.[7]

The flowers occur in umbels. The primary stalk of the inflorescence is about 12-20 mm long, with the stalks in the umbels being about 5-10 mm long. The flowers in their diads or triads are stalkless. The calyx lobes are inconspicuous or non-existent. The corolla lobes are red, and about 20-23 mm by 8-10 mm. The anthers are about 3 mm long on anther filaments which are about 8 mm long. The style is about 20 mm long.[7]

The ovary is about 2-3 mm long, and the fruits are ellipsoid to obovoid, about 7-10 mm long, and the calyx limb and style often persists at the apex of the fruit.[7]

Distribution

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In New South Wales it is found in remnant rainforests of the North Coast.[6] In Queensland it is known from just one collection in the north east[7] Outside Australia it has been found in rainforests and open humid forests from sea level to 1600 metres.[6]

Taxonomy

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Amyema plicatula is member of the Santalales, the mistletoe order, placed within the family Loranthaceae. It was first described as Loranthus plicatulus by Kurt Krause from a specimen collected in New Guinea,[8][9] but was transferred from the genus Loranthus in 1929 by Danser.[3]

The genus name, Amyema, is derived from Greek for 'without' and 'to instruct'.[10]

Host plants

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Downey records just one host, Dysoxylum fraseranum, in the Meliaceae family.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Species Profile and Threats Database: Amyema plicatula". Canberra: Department of Environment. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Amyema plicatula". Australian Plant Name Index, IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  3. ^ a b Danser, B.H. (1929). "On the taxonomy and nomenclature of the Loranthaceae of Asia and Australia". Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg. Série 3. 10 (3): 298.
  4. ^ a b "Amyema plicatula (K.Krause) Danser | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Amyema plicatula". Flora of Australia. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Wiecek, B.M. (1992). "PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System): Amyema plicatula". plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Amyema plicatula". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Loranthus plicatulus". Australian Plant Name Index, IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  9. ^ Krause, K. (1923). "Loranthaceae". Nova Guinea. 14: 102.
  10. ^ "Amyema". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  11. ^ Downey, P.O. (1998). "An inventory of host species for each aerial mistletoe species (Loranthaceae and Viscaceae) in Australia". Cunninghamia. 5 (3): 685–720.
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