Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae: Santalales

Loranthaceae - Showy mistletoe family

Polhill, R.M. & Wiens, D. (1998) Mistletoes of Africa Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Polhill, R.M. & Wiens, D. (2006) Loranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3)

Description of the family

Shrubs, hemiparasitic on the branches of woody dicotyledons, attached by woody haustoria, with or without surface runners producing secondary haustoria. Stems brittle, not articulated. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate or opposite, rarely whorled, simple. Flowers bisexual, 4-5-merous, borne singly or in racemes, umbels or heads. Calyx fused, often a low rim. Corolla usually large and colourful, often red and yellow. Petals free or united into a tube. Ovary inferior. Fruit a 1-seeded berry.

Worldwide: 68 genera and 900 species in tropical and temperate areas.

Zimbabwe: 14 genera and 37 taxa.

Globimetula mweroensis

Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Actinanthella BalleDescription, Image
Agelanthus Tiegh.Description, Image
Englerina Tiegh.Description, Image
Erianthemum Tiegh.Description, Image
Globimetula Tiegh.Description, Image
Helixanthera Lour.Description
Oliverella Tiegh.Description
Oncocalyx Tiegh.Description
Pedistylis WiensDescription
Phragmanthera Tiegh.Description
Plicosepalus Tiegh.Description, Image
Spragueanella BalleDescription
Tapinanthus (Blume) Rchb.Description, Image
Vanwykia WiensDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Loranthaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Loranthaceae
Flora of Burundi: Loranthaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Loranthaceae
Flora of the DRC: Loranthaceae
Flora of Malawi: Loranthaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Loranthaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Loranthaceae
Flora of Zambia: Loranthaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Loranthaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Loranthaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Loranthaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Loranthaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Loranthaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Loranthaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Loranthaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Loranthaceae
Wikipedia: Loranthaceae
Plants of the World Online: Loranthaceae
Tropicos: Loranthaceae



Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Family page: Loranthaceae.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=125, retrieved 2 December 2024

Site software last modified: 25 February 2024 10:33am (GMT +2)
Terms of use