Loranthus
Encyclopedia
Loranthus is a genus of mostly parasitic plants that grow on the branches of woody trees. It belongs to the family Loranthaceae
, the showy mistletoe family. In most earlier systematic treatments it contains all mistletoe species with bisexual flowers, though some species have reversed to unisexual flowers, while most modern systematists treat it as a monotypic genus with the only species Loranthus europaeus Jacq. - the summer mistletoe or European yellow mistletoe. In contrast to the wellknown European or Christmas mistletoe (Viscum album L., Santalaceae
or Viscaceae) this species is deciduous. The systematic situation of Loranthus is not entirely clear, and some showy mistletoes in Asia may be true parts of this genus.
The showy mistletoes can be found throughout the world. If the genus is treated in a restricted sense, the species L. europaeus is restricted to central-southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, where it often partially parasite species of oak. The fruits are an important food source for birds highly dependent on this food. Usually the birds are from specialized genera: Columbidae, Turdidae, etc. Birds eat the whole fruit and regurgitate seeds intact, expanding the seeds in the best conditions for germination (ornitochory
). Secondly, the seed dispersal
is carried out by monkey
s, chipmunk
s, porcupine
s, opossums or fish
es.
Sometimes a massive population of loranthus species in the same tree can cause death, but in most of cases their behavior is that of an epiphyte, favoring the autochthonous trees, that have developed resistance or strategies to reduce Loranthus species growth, against exotic species in the area without defenses. Some species of Loranthus, in the broad sense, are troublesome parasites, for example they occur in Kerala
India as a menace on mango
trees (Mangifera indica
), a majority of the Anogeissus latifolia
trees in the Biligirirangan Hills
of Karnataka are infected by Loranthus sp and in Africa as pests in cocoa plantations. These plants grows strongly on ageing trees particularly somewhere in the middle of old branches. Once established, it steals minerals and water, as well as block sunlight by covering the encroached place. The flowers of Loranthus europaeus are small, green, usually have four to six parts and may be either unisexual or bisexual. Other species of a broader Loranthus have very large, showy flowers, with blooms in lively colours. The fruits are berries, usually containing a single seed, that are dispersed by birds.
Their presence is ecologically important for biodiversity of animal species depending of its fruits in unfavorable seasons, placing the specie's genus beginning food chain.
An agricultural control method used is cutting the branch affected by Loranthus before it spreads to other branches of tree. For some Asian species using larvae of the Common Jezebel butterfly would be a method of natural control. The leaves of these loranths are food for the larvae. The larvae grow in scores and hence can quickly eat away the leaves of the mistletoe. Moreover, the larvae undergo metamorphosis later into beautiful butterflies called Common Jezebel which are very good pollinators and hence useful for trees.
L. ferrugineus,is a variety traditionally used for the management of hypertension.
Loranthaceae
Loranthaceae is a family of flowering plants, which has been universally recognized by taxonomists. It consists of about 75 genera and 1,000 species of woody plants, many of them hemi-parasites, all of them except three having the mistletoe habit...
, the showy mistletoe family. In most earlier systematic treatments it contains all mistletoe species with bisexual flowers, though some species have reversed to unisexual flowers, while most modern systematists treat it as a monotypic genus with the only species Loranthus europaeus Jacq. - the summer mistletoe or European yellow mistletoe. In contrast to the wellknown European or Christmas mistletoe (Viscum album L., Santalaceae
Santalaceae
Santalaceae is a widely distributed family of flowering plants which, like other members of Santalales, are partially parasitic on other plants...
or Viscaceae) this species is deciduous. The systematic situation of Loranthus is not entirely clear, and some showy mistletoes in Asia may be true parts of this genus.
Ecology
Its zoophilic pollination is done by insects, birds and mammals, as bats, hummingbirds, parrots, butterflies, moths...The showy mistletoes can be found throughout the world. If the genus is treated in a restricted sense, the species L. europaeus is restricted to central-southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, where it often partially parasite species of oak. The fruits are an important food source for birds highly dependent on this food. Usually the birds are from specialized genera: Columbidae, Turdidae, etc. Birds eat the whole fruit and regurgitate seeds intact, expanding the seeds in the best conditions for germination (ornitochory
Biological dispersal
Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...
). Secondly, the seed dispersal
Seed dispersal
Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and consequently rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their propagules, including both abiotic and biotic vectors. Seeds can be dispersed away from the parent plant...
is carried out by monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s, chipmunk
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
s, porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
s, opossums or fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es.
Sometimes a massive population of loranthus species in the same tree can cause death, but in most of cases their behavior is that of an epiphyte, favoring the autochthonous trees, that have developed resistance or strategies to reduce Loranthus species growth, against exotic species in the area without defenses. Some species of Loranthus, in the broad sense, are troublesome parasites, for example they occur in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
India as a menace on mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
trees (Mangifera indica
Mangifera indica
Mangifera indica is a species of mango in the Anacardiaceae family. It is found in the wild in India and cultivated varieties have been introduced to other warm regions of the world...
), a majority of the Anogeissus latifolia
Anogeissus latifolia
Anogeissus latifolia is a species of small to medium-sized tree native to the India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Its common names are axlewood , bakli, dhau, dhawa, dhawra, or dhaora , takhian-nu , and raam .It is one of the most useful trees in India...
trees in the Biligirirangan Hills
Biligirirangan Hills
The Biligiriranga Hills, commonly called B R Hills, is a hill range situated in south-eastern Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu in South India. The area is called Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary or simply BRT Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a protected reserve under the Wildlife...
of Karnataka are infected by Loranthus sp and in Africa as pests in cocoa plantations. These plants grows strongly on ageing trees particularly somewhere in the middle of old branches. Once established, it steals minerals and water, as well as block sunlight by covering the encroached place. The flowers of Loranthus europaeus are small, green, usually have four to six parts and may be either unisexual or bisexual. Other species of a broader Loranthus have very large, showy flowers, with blooms in lively colours. The fruits are berries, usually containing a single seed, that are dispersed by birds.
Their presence is ecologically important for biodiversity of animal species depending of its fruits in unfavorable seasons, placing the specie's genus beginning food chain.
An agricultural control method used is cutting the branch affected by Loranthus before it spreads to other branches of tree. For some Asian species using larvae of the Common Jezebel butterfly would be a method of natural control. The leaves of these loranths are food for the larvae. The larvae grow in scores and hence can quickly eat away the leaves of the mistletoe. Moreover, the larvae undergo metamorphosis later into beautiful butterflies called Common Jezebel which are very good pollinators and hence useful for trees.
L. ferrugineus,is a variety traditionally used for the management of hypertension.