Description:

• Mainly shrubby, brittle, perennial aerial hemiparasites of other dicotyledons, glabrous or variously pubescent, often with swollen nodes
• Leaves opposite, semi-opposite, alternate or whorled, simple, entire, often coriaceous, predominantly evergreen (rarely deciduous); stipules 0
• Inflorescence a few-flowered umbel or head, or flowers 1-several in fascicles, rarely racemose
• Flowers bisexual, regular to irregular by occurrence of a unilateral split, 5- or 4-merous, often brightly coloured with yellows and reds, mostly opening explosively, pollinated mainly by birds
• Calyx often reduced to a low rim (a calyculus), persistent on fruit
• Petals partly fused or ± free
• Stamens as many as and opposite and arising on petals; anthers basifixed, usually 2-thecous, sometimes divided into many thecae by presence of numerous transverse septa
• Ovary inferior, of 3-6 fused carpels, uni- or plurilocular, typically without distinct placenta; sometimes with disc; ovules absent, embryo sacs formed at base of ovary (mamelon); style simple; stigma mostly capitate
• Fruit a berry, usually 1-seeded, with a viscous layer developed outside vascular bundles
• Seed solitary, without a testa

Classification Notes:

• In the light of recent research, especially the pollination mechanism of the flowers, Wiens & Tölken (1979) subdivide the genus Loranthus in broad sense in southern Africa into 11 [13 in Polhill & Wiens (1998)] smaller genera under Loranthaceae along the lines suggested by earlier taxonomists. The genus Viscum is placed in Viscaceae

Nomenclature:

• Loranthaceae
  • Sprague: 100 (1915)
  • Balle: 1 (1969)
  • Wiens & Tölken: 1 (1979)
  • Polhill & Wiens: 77 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Genera ± 77, species ± 950; widely distributed in tropical and south temperate regions of the world
• Southern Africa: Genera 13, species ± 34

References:

• BALLE, S. 1969. Loranthaceae. Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 22
• POLHILL, R. & WIENS, D. 1998. The mistletoes of Africa. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
• SPRAGUE, T.A. 1915. Loranthaceae. Flora capensis 5,2
• WIENS, D. & TÖLKEN, H. 1979. Loranthaceae. Flora of southern Africa 10,1

Resources:

• Key to Loranthaceae genera

• Loranthaceae genera: