Viscum minimum
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| Viscum minimum | |
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| File:Viscum minimum2 ies.jpg | |
| Viscum minimum leaf scales and flowers emerging from the host plant. | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Santalaceae |
| Genus: | Viscum |
| Species: | V. minimum
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| Binomial name | |
| Viscum minimum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Viscum minimum is a species of mistletoe in the family Santalaceae.[1][2] It is a parasitic plant native to South Africa.
Description
[edit | edit source]In its native habitat Viscum minimum uses two species of succulents, Euphorbia polygona and Euphorbia horrida, as host plants. However, given the opportunity, the plant uses a range of succulents, including cacti, as hosts.
A mature Viscum minimum consists mostly of haustoria within the host plant, with small stems of less than one millimeter in length each with a single whorl of 2-3 scale-like leaves. A single flower, and later a red round fruit with a diameter of 8-9 millimeters, emerges from these stems. The leaves and stems are capable of photosynthesis, making the plant technically a hemiparasite.
The Viscum minimum mitochondrial genome has been sequenced, showing an unusual loss of genes or their functions. [3]
Seed germination
[edit | edit source]-
Day 1: The sticky seed has landed on the host plant.
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Day 4: Germination has commenced.
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Day 10: The shoot emerges from the seed.
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Day 23: The shoot has made contact with the host plant.
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Day 30: The primary haustorium has developed.
Literature
[edit | edit source]- William Henry Harvey: Flora Capensis 2: 581
- Robert Allen Dyer: Two Rare Parasites on Succulent Species of Euphorbia, Euphorbia Review Vol. I (4): 29-32, 1935
- Thomas Goebel: Viscum minimum Harvey in der Sukkulentensammlung der Stadt Zürich, Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten 29 (1), 1978
- Frank K. Horwood: Two parasites of Euphorbia: Viscum minimum and Hydnora africana, The Euphorbia Journal, Vol 1: 45-48, 1983
References
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Massive gene loss in mistletoe (Viscum, Viscaceae) mitochondria Nature Accessed 5.1.2018
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