Psittacanthus calyculatus

Psittacanthus calyculatus, (erva de passerinho), is a species of Neotropical mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae, native to Colombia, Mexico, the Mexican Gulf, and Venezuela.[2]

Psittacanthus calyculatus
Psittacanthus calyculatus in de Candolle in 1830
Psittacanthus calyculatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Loranthaceae
Genus: Psittacanthus
Species:
P. calyculatus
Binomial name
Psittacanthus calyculatus
Synonyms[2]
  • Loranthus calyculatus DC.
  • Hyphipus trigona Raf.
  • Chatinia calyculata (DC.) Tiegh.
  • Loranthus jacquinii DC.
  • Loranthus pedunculatus Spreng. ex Steud.
  • Loranthus plumieri Cham. & Schltdl.
Psittacanthus calyculatus

Description

Psittacanthus calyculatus is hairless, with nearly terete branches.[3] The leaves are opposite and ovate or lanceolate, having almost no petiole, and without veins.[3] The inflorescences are terminal and in groups of three yellow to scarlet flowers which have cup-shaped bracts under them.[3]

Life cycle

In October or November, the fruit matures, and is eaten by a bird, who voids the seed. By November, if the defecation site is a suitable branch, the seed may have infected the host, and initial buds will start to appear.[4] Vegetative growth continues, until, four years after the initial infection, the plant flowers in November, with fruit becoming mature the following year from October to February.[4] Thus, there are some five years required for its life-cycle.[4]

Ecology

Vasquez Collazo and Geils (2002) report eleven observed conifer hosts for Psittacanthus calyculatus: Abies religiosa, Pinus douglasiana, P. lawsonii, P. leiophylla, P. michoacana, P. pseudostrobus, P. teocote, P. montezumae, P. herrerai, P. pringlei, and P. rudis.[4]

At least nineteen bird species (insectivores, omnivores, and granivores) have been seen feeding on the fruits.[4]

Taxonomy

Psittacanthus calyculatus was first described by de Candolle in 1830 as Loranthus calyculatus,[5][6] and in 1834, Don assigned it to the new genus Psittacanthus.[1][3]

Etymology

Psittacanthos comes from the Greek psittakos (parrot), and the Greek anthos (flower), chosen according to Don,[3] possibly because of the bright colours. Calyculatus is the Latin for provided with a calyculus which is a cup-like structure below the calyx, formed by a whorl of bracts[7]

References
  1. "IPNI: Psittacanthus calyculatus". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  2. Govaerts, R. et. al. 2018. "Plants of the World online: Psittacanthus calyculatus". Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. Don, G. 1834. "A general history of the dichlamydeous plants :comprising complete descriptions of the different orders...the whole arranged according to the natural system 3: 415".
  4. Vasquez Collazo, I, Geils, B.W. 2002. "Chapter 2 Psittacanthus in Mexico" (PDF). In Mistletoes of North American Conifers. Retrieved 24 May 2018
  5. "IPNI: Loranthus calyculatus". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  6. de Candolle, A.P. 1830. Collection de memoires pour servir a l'histoire du regne vegetal. Sixieme memoire sur la famille des Loranthacees vi. t. 10.
  7. Stearn, W.T. 2004. Botanical Latin 4th Edition, p.380. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
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