Which Loranthus species? ID230608JM

[J.M. Garg]

On 22/6/08 in Hyderabad, AP. Initial Id- courtesy Chandra Mohan ji. I found this parasitic plant in my office campus as well as in residential in Lalaguda, Secunderabad. It appears quite common here. I think this is liked very much by the Flowerpeckers i.e. why I am finding them everywhere in Hyderabad.

 

Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link on Loranthus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loranthus

 

Loranthus is a genus of parasitic plants that grow on the branches of woody trees.

 

Distribution

Throughout the world. Occurs in plenty in Kerala India, as a menace on Mango trees (Mangifera indica).

Characteristics

These plants grows strongly on ageing trees particularly somewhere in the middle of old branches. Once established, it quickly steals the nutrients and sunlight by covering the encroached place such that the branch of the host tree is rendered weak and inactive. Loranthus blooms are rose in colour. It becomes a menace over a period of time for the struggling trees by stealing the sunlight needed for photosynthesis.

Control

Cutting the branch affected by Loranthus before it spreads to other branches of the tree may be a method.^{[citation needed]} However, using larvae of the Common Jezebel butterfly would be the best method of natural control.^{[citation needed]} The leaves of Loranthus are food for the larvae. The larvae grow in scores and hence can quickly eat away the leaves of Loranthus. Moreover, the larvae undergo metamorphosis later into beautiful butterflies called Common Jezebel which are very good pollinators and hence useful for trees.

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With regards,
J.M.Garg
"We often ignore the beauty around us"
For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en
For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees, Landscape pictures etc., visit http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg

[J.M. Garg]

Can it be Dendrophthoe falcata as per the links: http://rainforest-australia.com/Mistletoe.htm ?
Here is the earlier link on Indiantreepix: http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/2ae0e2a7761e07de

Here is a link to a few more pictures: http://images.google.co.in/images?hl=en&q=Dendrophthoe%20falcata&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

[J.M. Garg]

I found a detailed link with drawings & pictures on Dendrophthoe curvata (which at several sites named as synonyms): http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/NewGuineaLoranths/Dendrophthoe/Dcurvata.html

[Gurcharan Singh]

Forwarding for ID

Distributed as  Dendrophthoe falcata ?

Group discussion at

Which Loranthus species? ID230608JM (google.com)

[Gurcharan Singh]

Forwarding for ID

Distributed as  Dendrophthoe falcata ?

Group discussion at

Which Loranthus species? ID230608JM (google.com)

[Saroj Kasaju]

I guess matching with https://efloraofindia.com/species/a---l/l/loranthaceae/dendrophthoe/dendrophthoe-falcata !

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

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