Amyema
↑A. pendula, habit; ↓A. gibberula, flowers
Amyema gibberula var. gibberula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Loranthaceae
Genus: Amyema
Tiegh.
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Loranthus sect. Amyema Endl.
  • Loranthus sect. Pilostigma Engl.
  • Pilostigma Tiegh.[1][2]
  • Xylochlamys Domin

Amyema is a genus of semi-parasitic shrubs (mistletoes) which occur in Malesia and Australia.

Etymology

Amyema derives from the Greek: a (negative), and myeo (I initiate), referring to the genus being previously unrecognised.[3]

Description

Hamilton & Barlow describe the haustorial structures of most Australian Amyemas as being ball-like, with some exceptions.[4]

Species

There are approximately 90 species including the following:

Faunal associations

The mistletoebird is known to consume the fruit of Amyema quandang[5] as well as other mistletoe species from which its name is derived.

Larvae of the butterfly genus Delias often use various Amyema species as larval food plants. In doing so, the adults acquire a taste that is unpalatable to predators.[6]

Uses

The fruit of Amyema species is high in protein, lipids, and carbohydrates, and was eaten by the Ngunnawal people.[7]

References

  1. ↑ IPNI Amyema. International Plant Name Index. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  2. ↑ M. Ph. Van Tieghem (January 1894). "Sur Le Groupement Des Espèces En Genres Dans Les Loranthacées A Calice Dialysépale Et Anthéres Basifixes". Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France (in French). 41 (6): 506. doi:10.1080/00378941.1894.10831632. ISSN 0037-8941. Wikidata Q54801450.
  3. ↑ Barlow, B.A. (1984). "Flora of Australia Online: Amyema, Data derived from Flora of Australia Volume 22, a product of ABRS, ©Commonwealth of Australia". Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  4. ↑ S.G.Hamilton; B.A. Barlow (1963). "Studies in Australian Loranthaceae. II. Attachment Structures and their Interrelationships". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 88: 74–90. ISSN 0370-047X. Wikidata Q106588754.
  5. ↑ Reid, Nick (June 1990). "Mutualistic interdependence between mistletoes (Amyema quandang), and spiny-cheeked honeyeaters and mistletoebirds in an arid woodland". Austral Ecology. 15 (2): 175–190. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1990.tb01526.x.
  6. ↑ Orr & Kitching (2010). The Butterflies of Australia. Jacana Books. ISBN 9781741751086.
  7. ↑ Ngunnawal Elders & their families. 2014. Ngunnawal Plant Use, ACT Government, ISBN 9781921117152
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