Banana Mistletoe

Lysiana subfalcata
Family: LORANTHACEAE

This distinctive local plant is flowering at present. The species is found Australia-wide, but usually with red flowers. Our locals are bright yellow, looking just like little bananas.
Now is the time to look for seed of this butterfly host plant, to grow in your own garden. (Squeeze the seed onto a likely small branch and keep it watered by pouring a cupful of water over it once or twice a day until it starts growing - probably just a week or two.)



This specimen was growing on a Eucalyptus at Jondaryan.



Other known native hosts are: Cassia and Senna sp., Apophyllum anomalum, Capparis sp., Casuarina cristata, Petalostigma pubescens, Pittosporum angustifolium, Owenia acidula, Angophora sp., Bursaria spinosa, Canthium and Psydrax sp., Eremocitrus glauca, Flindersia collina, Geijera parviflora, Exocarpos cuppressiformis, Santalum sp., Alectryon sp., Atalaya hemiglauca, and Callitris sp. It will also grow on introduced oleanders and citrus trees.
Such an adaptable plant is worth trying to grow on almost any plant of a suitable size and shape!
(For more information about the Banana Mistletoe, see January 2009)