mistletoes

I don't venture out often at this time of the year due to the heat and parched scrubland,but on a recent outing I noticed the mistletoes and wattles were flowering despite the dry conditions.I have to begin this blog somewhere,so I decided on something seasonal.

MISTLETOES

Mistletoes are legendary plants which grow as parasites on the branches of  trees and shrubs.Their seeds are deposited in the droppings of birds which eat the fruit.
There are two species commonly seen in this area.

HARLEQUIN  MISTLETOE   

  Lysiana  exocarpi

Leaves narrow-linear to oblong, 30-150 X 1-10 mm, flowers usually red, rarely yellow.
Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 6-10 mm long, red or black.Parasitic on a wide range of hosts but not Eucalyptus. W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.Flowers throughout the year,mainly Summer.  

TEA - TREE  MISTLETOE

Amyema  melaleuca

 Leaf lamina lanceolate to narrow-spathulate, 20-45 mm long,,exclusively parasitic on Melaleuca.Flowers red, November - April.Fruit nearly globular, 6-8 mm long.thrives in coastal situations, S.A and W.A

( Photo - Billy Lights Point )