# Manual of the New Zealand Flora/Loranthaceæ

Additions and Corrections
Order LXXII. LORANTHACEÆ.
Parasitic shrubs. Leaves opposite or alternate, simple and entire, coriaceous, sometimes reduced to scales or wanting; stipules absent. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual, axillary or terminal, solitary or in racemes or spikes or fascicles, usually with a bract on each pedicel and 2 bracteoles below each flower. Perianth double, outer adnate to the ovary, limb short or barely evident, truncate or 4–6-toothed; inner 3–6-lobed, lobes free or united into a tube, valvate. Stamens as many as the divisions of the perianth, usually inserted on them; filaments short or long; anthers introrse, 2-celled. Ovary inferior, 1-celled; style short or long; stigma simple; ovule solitary, erect, adnate to the walls of the ovary. Fruit a 1-seeded berry or drupe, pericarp usually viscid. Seed generally albuminous; embryo straight, axile, radicle superior.
An order comprising 13 genera and about 500 species, chiefly found in the tropical or warm regions of both hemispheres, with comparatively few species in the temperate zones. The order has no important properties or economic value, and the common mistletoe is the only species of any repute. Of the 3 New Zealand genera, Tupeia is endemic; the remaining two are widely distributed in both temperate and tropical climates.
| Leafy. Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth double. Anthers opening lengthwise | 1. Loranthus. |
| Leafy. Flowers diœcious. Perianth single. Anthers on slender filaments, opening lengthwise | 2. Tupeia. |
| The New Zealand species leafless. Flowers diœcious. Perianth single. Anthers sessile, opening by several pores | 3. Viscum. |
1. LORANTHUS, Linn.
Parasitic shrubs. Leaves opposite or rarely alternate, entire, coriaceous. Flowers hermaphrodite, often highly coloured, yellow or orange or red, rarely white or greenish, in axillary racemes or cymes, rarely solitary. Perianth double; outer (calyx) adnate to the ovary; limb short, truncate or 4–6-toothed; inner (corolla) tubular, of 4–6 free or more or less connate petals, their tips ultimately spreading or reflexed. Stamens as many as the petals and inserted on them; filaments distinct; anthers adnate or versatile. Ovary inferior; style filiform; stigma terminal. Fruit a berry.
A large genus of about 350 species, abundant in the tropics, but rare in temperate regions. The New Zealand species are all endemic.
A. Anthers continuous with the filament, not versatile. :
| * Petals free to the base. ||
| Flowers small, greenish, ⅛ in. long, in small trichotomous panicles | 1. L. micranthus. |
| Flowers 1 in. long, axillary, solitary or 2–4 together | 2. L. tetrapetalus. |
| Flowers 1½–2 in. long, in 3–9-fiowered racemes | 3. L. Colensoi. |
| ** Petals united to the middle or nearly so (sometimes dorsally split to the base in L. Adamsii). ||
| Flowers 1½–2 in. long, 2 to 4 at the top of a short axillary peduncle | 4. L. Adamsii. |
| Flowers ½–¾ in. long, in 10–15-flowered racemes | 5. L. flavidus. |
| B. Anthers not continuous with the filament, versatile. ||
| Flowers 1 in. long, in axillary trichotomous panicles | 6. L. tenuiflorus. |
1. L. micranthus, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 100.—A perfectly glabrous bushy shrub 2–5 ft. high; branches terete, the younger ones flattened and 2-edged. Leaves opposite, 1½–3 in. long, oblong or elliptic-oblong or oblong-obovate, rounded at the tip, narrowed into a stout petiole about ⅓ in. long, thick and coriaceous, veins very obscure. Panicles small, ½–¾ in. long, axillary, trichotomously branched, many-flowered; branches slender, divaricating. Flowers minute, greenish, ⅛ in. long. Calyx-tube cylindrical; limb very minute, truncate. Corolla of 4 linear-oblong spreading petals, free to the base. Anthers small, oblong, basifixed. Style stout, short, suddenly twisted up and down at the middle; stigma lateral, capitate. Berry bright-yellow, oblong, viscid, ⅓ in. long.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 107. Viscum antarcticum, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 483 (not of Forst.).
North and South Islands: Abundant in lowland districts throughout. Sea-level to 2000 ft. October–November.
Easily distinguished by its small green flowers. Parasitic on Coprosma, Melicope, Leptospermum, &c.
​2. L. tetrapetalus, Forst. Prodr. n, 156.—A bushy shrub 3–6 ft. high; stems usually numerous from the base, often adhering to the host for a considerable distance; branches spreading, terete, greyish; branchlets compressed, glabrous or minutely pubescent. Leaves opposite and decussate, ½–1¼ in. long, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, rounded at the tip, narrowed into a short petiole at the base, very thick and coriaceous, pale yellowishgreen when fresh, reddish when dry, midrib and veins obscure. Flowers bright-red, either solitary or 2–4 together in the axils of the leaves, erect; peduncles short, stout. Calyx-limb cupular, obscurely 4-toothed. Corolla about 1 in. long, swollen and 4-angled at the base, terete above, ultimately splitting to the base into 4 linear petals, which are erect below, but reflexed at the tip. Anthers narrow -linear, basifixed. Style equalling the corolla; stigma capitate.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 268; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 486; Raoul, Choix, 42; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 99; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 107. L. decussatus, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. iii. (1871) 162. L. punctatus, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 323.
North and South Islands: Not uncommon from the Little Barrier Island and Cape Colville to the south-west of Otago. 500–4000 ft. November–January.
In the southern portion of the colony this is usually parasitic on Fagus, in the north on Quintinia. Through a curious misconception, Mr. Kirk applied the name of tetrapetalus to the plant now known as L. Adamsii, and described the true tetrapetalus as a distinct species under the name of L. decussatus.
3. L. Colensoi, Hook. f. in Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 633.—A large much-branched perfectly glabrous bush; branchlets terete. Leaves opposite, 1½–3 in. long, broadly oblong or obovate or almost orbicular, obtuse, narrowed into a stout petiole ⅓–¼ in. long, very thick and coriaceous, veinless or the veins very obscure. Peduncles stout, axillary, ½–1 in. long, 3–9-flowered. Flowers sessile, opposite, large, scarlet, 1½–2 in. long; a small deciduous leaf-like bract at the base of each flower; bracteoles wanting. Calyx-limb prominent, cupular, truncate or obscurely sinuate. Corolla terete or nearly so in bud, swollen at the base and towards the tip, splitting into 4 linear petals free to the base. Anthers very narrow-linear, basifixed. Style straight, equalling the corolla.—Raoul, Choix, 42; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 99; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 107.
North Island: Lake Waikaremoana, parasitic on Metrosideros tomentosa,' Colenso! Mount Hikurangi and other places in the East Cape district, Adams and Petrie, Bishop Williams! various localities in Wellington Province, Buchanan! South Island: Not uncommon in wooded districts throughout. Sea-level to 2000 ft. December–January.
A very handsome species. It is usually parasitic on Fagus, but has also been noticed on Pittosporum and Metrosideros.
​4. L. Adamsii, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1881) 296.—A perfectly glabrous bush 2–4 ft. high; branchlets terete. Leaves opposite, 1½–2½ in. long, broadly oblong or oblong-obovate, obtuse,, narrowed into a short stout petiole or almost sessile, very thick and coriaceous, veins hardly visible, margins slightly recurved. Peduncles very short, axillary, each bearing 2–4 sessile flowers; a small concave bract and 2 bracteoles at the base of each flower. Flowers rather large, 1½–2 in. long, reddish, more or less tinged with yellowish-green. Calyx-limb short, with 4 minute triangular teeth. Corolla narrow at the base, swollen in the middle, and then contracted just below the limb; lobes 4, separating about ¼-way down, reflexed, but the corolla often splits dorsally to the base, the lobes then all turning one way. Anthers narrow-linear, basifixed, tips acute. Style equalling the corolla; stigma capitate.
North Island: Auckland—Thames goldfields, Adams! T.F.C.; Hunua, Kirk! September–October.
The foliage of this almost precisely matches that of L. Colensoi, but the flowers are very different. Parasitic on Coprosma, Myrsine, and Melicope.
5. L. flavidus, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 100, t. 27.—A sparingly branched glabrous shrub 1–3 ft. high; branches spreading. Leaves opposite, 1–2½ in. long, linear-oblong, usually rounded at the tip, rarely apiculate, narrowed at the base into a short petiole, flat, very coriaceous, veins inconspicuous, or 3–5 diverging from the base; margins thickened and very minutely crenulate when dry, often red when fresh. Eacemes axillary, 10–16-flowered, spreading or drooping, ¾–2 in. long; peduncle slender, tetragonous; pedicels opposite and decussate, about ⅙ in. long; bracts obsolete. Flowers ½–¾ in. long, orange-yellow. Calyx-limb minute, cupular, truncate. Corolla slender, swollen above the base; petals united almost to the middle, upper part sharply reflexed, linear-spathulate. Anthers small, linear-oblong. Style rather longer than the corolla; stigma large, capitate.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 107. L. polychroa, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 241.
North and South Islands: Not uncommon in Fagus forests from the Ruahine Mountains and Mount Egmont southwards. Sea-level to 2500 ft. December–February.
Usually parasitic on the various species of Fagus.
6. L. tenuiflorus, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 100.—A small glabrous shrub; branches slender, terete. Leaves opposite, 1–1½ in. long, obovate or obovate-oblong, obtuse, narrowed into short slender petioles, veins few, slender. Flowers about 1 in. long, in axillary trichotomous puberulous panicles; peduncles and pedicels slender, divaricating, about ¼ in. long. Corolla slender, terete, curved; petals very narrow, united ⅔-way up, but perhaps ultimately separating. Anthers oblong, versatile. Style slender; stigma simple.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 107.
North Island: Locality unknown.
Founded upon a single specimen in the Kew Herbarium, the exact locality of which is not known. It is evidently a most distinct species, differing from all others found in New Zealand in the many-flowered trichotomous panicles. The anthers are not fully described by Hooker, but in the "Genera Plantarum" the species is referred to the subgenus Phrygilanthus (now often kept as a distinct genus), in which they are versatile.
2. TUPEIA, Cham. et. Schl.
A parasitic shrub; branches terete, jointed. Leaves opposite or alternate, flat, broad or narrow. Flowers diœcious, in small axillary and terminal panicles. Perianth-tube of the male flowers very small, of the female flowers adnate to the ovary; limb 4-partite, rarely 5-partite. Stamens in the male flowers affixed to the base of the segments; filaments long, filiform; anthers ovate-oblong. Ovary in the female flowers inferior, ovoid; style short and thick; stigma obtuse. Fruit a subglobose 1-seeded berry; mesocarp succulent and viscid. Seed globose; albumen copious, fleshy; embryo almost terete.
The genus is limited to a single species, endemic in New Zealand.
1. T. antarctica, Cham. and Schl. in Linnæa, iii. (1828) 203.—A small branching shrub 2–3 ft. high; bark pale; branchlets finely pubescent. Leaves very variable in size and shape, ½–2½ in. long, from broad ovate-rhomboid to elliptic- or oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, narrowed into short petioles, pale-green, rather thin; veins faint but evident, anastomosing. Panicles shorter than the leaves, 6–12-flowered; peduncles and pedicels slender, pubescent. Flowers small, ⅙ in. diam., greenish-yellow, often very abundantly produced. Segments of the male perianth linear-oblong or oblong-spathulate, of the female narrower and more acute. Stigma large, globular, obscurely lobed. Berry about ¼ in. diam., white or pink spotted with darker pink, pulp extremely viscid.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 101, t. 26; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 108. T. Cunninghamii, Miq. in Linnæa, xviii. (1844) 85. T. pubigera, Miq. l.c. 86. T. undulata, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 329. Viscum antarcticum, Forst. Prodr. n. 370; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 269; Raoul, Choix, 42. V. pubigerum, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 484.
North and South Islands: Not uncommon in wooded districts throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft. Pirita. October–December.
A most variable plant. Parasitic on Panax, Pittosporum, Carpodetus, Melicope, Myrsine, &c., and occasionally on Loranthus tetrapetalus and L. micranthus.
3. VISCUM, Linn.
Parasitic shrubs; branches opposite, often dichotomous. Leaves opposite or none. Flowers diœcious or monœcious, very small, ​solitary or fascicled in the axils of the leaves or at the nodes of the branches, rarely terminal. Perianth-tube of the male flowers very short and solid, of the females adnate to the ovary; limb 3–4-partite. Anthers as many as the perianth-segments and sessile on them, broadly ovate or oblong, opening by pores on the inner side. Ovary inferior; stigma large, pulvinate, sessile or nearly so. Fruit a 1-seeded berry, usually crowned by the remains of the perianthsegments; mesocarp succulent and viscid. Albumen copious, fleshy; embryos 1 or 2 in each seed.
About 30 species are known, widely spread through the tropical and temperate regions of the Old World.
| Joints flat, broadly obovate, ⅕–½ in. long, ⅛–⅓ in. broad. Flowers spicate, the spikes in lateral pairs and 1–3 terminal | 1. V. Lindsayi. |
| Joints flat, linear-spathulate, ¼–½ in. long, 1/20–1/8 in. broad. Flowers spicate, the spikes always solitary | 2. V. clavatum. |
| Joints terece, 1/10–1/3 in. long, 1/25 in. broad. Flowers sessile, in whorls between the joints | 3. V. salicornioides. |
1. V. Lindsayi, Oliver ex Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 108.—A small succulent perfectly glabrous sparingly branched leafless little plant 2–6 in. high; branches opposite, divaricate, jointed; joints much flattened, ⅕–½ in. long, ⅛–⅓ in. broad, broadly obovate to obovate-spathulate, coriaceous, dark-green, often punctate. Spikes usually 2 (rarely 4) to each node and 1 to 3 at the top of the terminal joint, about ¼ in. long, jointed, the tip of each successive joint expanded and enclosing a whorl of 6–10 closely packed flowers. Flowers very minute, dioecious; the males pyriform, of 3 fleshy perianth-segments, each bearing a sessile anther on its inner face; the females of an ovoid ovary crowned by 3–4 perianth-lobes. Fruit obovoid, 1/15 in. long, tipped by the persistent perianth-lobes.—Lindsay, Contr. N.Z. Bot. 52, t. 2.
North Island: Hawke's Bay—Norsewood, Colenso! Patangata, Tryon! South Island: Marlborough—Pelorus Sound, Macmahon! Canterbury—Near Christchurch, Armstrong. Otago—Vicinity of Dunedin, Lindsay, Buchanan! Petrie! Winton, Kirk! October–February.
Parasitic on Sophora, Melicope, Myrtus, Metrosideros, Coprosma, Myrsine, &c.
2. V. clavatum, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiv. (1892) 429, t. 37.—Very closely allied to V. Lindsayi, and perhaps only a variety, but a smaller plant, seldom more than 2 in. high, with the joints of the stem much narrower, linear-spathulate, ¼–½ in. long, 1/20–1/8 in. broad. Spikes apparently always solitary, either terminal or from the nodes. Male flowers not seen, but female flowers and fruit quite like those of V. Lindsayi.
South Island: Canterbury—Castle Hill Basin, 2000–3000 ft., Enys! Kirk! T.F.C.
Parasitic on Aristotelia fruticosa, Discaria, and Coprosma.
​3. V. salicornioides, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 485.—A small tufted perfectly glabrous much-branched leafless species 2–4 in. high; branches opposite, rather succulent, terete, jointed; joints 1/10–1/3 in. long, 1/25 in. broad, terete or obscurely flattened, expanded at the tip. Flowers very minute, diœcious, 4–8 together at the nodes, forming a ring round the branch, partly concealed by the expanded tip of the joints. Male flowers much the smallest; perianth-segments 3, triangular, each bearing a sessile anther on its inner face. Female flowers more numerous; ovary ovoid, crowned by 3 very minute perianth-lobes. Fruit 1/20 in. long, ellipsoid, tipped by the persistent perianth-segments.—Raoul, Choix, 42; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 101; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 108.
North and South Islands: From Mongonui and Kaitaia southwards to Dunedin, but often local. Sea-level to 1500 ft.
Usually parasitic on Leptospermum, but also seen on Gaultheria and Dracophyllum.