Viscum obovatum Harv.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type

Type from South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracteal cups sessile, the central flower staminate and the lateral flowers pistillate, or often with all flowers the same sex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style minute but distinct; stigma not expanded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries sessile, dull orange, ellipsoid, 3–4 mm high, tuberculate when young, less so at maturity, apically truncated Berries sessile, dull orange, ellipsoid, 3–4 mm high, tuberculate when young, less so at maturity, apically truncated.

Ecology

Coastal forest remnants, coastal bushland and riverine or swamp associations; below 200 m; on various hosts; flowering probably throughout the year. Said to be deciduous on Ilha da Inhaca, see Mogg, loc. cit. (1969).

Note

The species is most easily confused with V. tuberculatum, from which it is distinguishable by its smaller (3–4 mm high), dull orange fruit and generally smaller leaves. The species are evolutionarily separated by their unusually different chromosome numbers, n=12 in V. obovatum and n=23 in V. tuberculatum.

Distribution

MOZ GI, MOZ M Also in South Africa, south to the Eastern Cape, and in Swaziland. Mozambique

Morphology General Habit

Leafy, monoecious shrubs of moderate size, <0.5 m high, forming dense, rounded clusters; internodes of distal branches rounded, relatively short, 8–15(20) × 2 mm, with often conspicuously swollen nodes. Leafy, monoecious shrubs of moderate size, <0.5 m high, forming dense, rounded clusters; internodes of distal branches rounded, relatively short, 8–15(20) × 2 mm, with often conspicuously swollen nodes

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 12–17 × 8–12 mm, mostly obovate-rounded, rounded apically, cuneate into the base; petiole 2–3 mm long. Leaves 12–17 × 8–12 mm, mostly obovate-rounded, rounded apically, cuneate into the base; petiole 2–3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Bracteal cups sessile, the central flower staminate and the lateral flowers pistillate, or often with all flowers the same sex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style minute but distinct; stigma not expanded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Ring scar left by perianth only slightly raised, 1.5 mm in diameter. Ring scar left by perianth only slightly raised, 1.5 mm in diameter.