Amyema linophylla subsp orientalis
Family: LORANTHACEAE
Those who live west of the dividing range might be familiar with this one. The leaves are so well camouflaged on their usual host bulloaks (Allocasuarina leuhmanii) that the plant goes unnoticed until it flowers in February, giving the impression that the trees have suddenly gone all hippie and rebelled against their usual rather boring style of flower. (If you’re going to San Francisco...)
The plant’s name is Bulloak mistletoe, but it can often be found on belahs (Casuarina cristata), and occasionally on other trees including blackwoods (Acacia melanoxylon) and budda
(Eremophila mitchelii).Mistletoes can and do grow on other mistletoes, and this specimen had a little passenger, a harlequin mistletoe, Lysiana exocarpi subsp tenuis, showing some of its red and green buds.
2 comments:
These Amyema linophylla are very good at hiding themselves on thier host. A few years ago I was particularly confused by one I found growing on belah near Moonie. I thought the tree had small pink fruit. I was actually looking at mistletoe that was doing a great job of pretending to be a belah branch.
It was about a year later that I realised what was going on, although I have not been back to check the particular specimen.
I have also found them in the Gardens at Rimfire Winery near Maclagan. They have an outdoor area where you can sit and enjoy your wine and cheese. There is a paved area that is well shaded by belah, wilga and bottletrees. It could only be improved with a few big old silver brigalows. The wine was worth a crack as well.
It sounds like a good place to visit in February to see the flowers, Mick - or later to see the little pink fruits. They would be edible - but best left for the birds, or just for their ornamental value. (The Rimfire people might justifiably object to having their native fruits pinched!)
Trish
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