Muellerina (plant) explained

Muellerina is a genus of parasitic aerial shrubs in the family Loranthaceae.^{[1] [2]}

This Loranthaceae genus is distinguished from others by having^[3]

• Petals free to base or almost so
• Anthers dorsifixed, versatile
• Aerial stem-parasitic shrubs with epicortical runners
• Petals 5, curved; stamens unequal

Species include:

• Muellerina bidwillii (Benth.) Barlow
• Muellerina celastroides (Sieber ex Schult. & Schult.f) Tiegh.
• Muellerina eucalyptoides (DC.) Barlow
• Muellerina flexialabastra Downey & C.A.Wilson
• Muellerina myrtifolia (A.Cunn. ex Benth.) Barlow

Ecology

The larvae of the Australian butterflies Delias harpalyce and Ogyris genoveva feed on Muellerina.

An inventory of host plants for Muellerina spp. is given by Downey^{[4] [5]}

Taxonomy

Muellerina is a member of Santalales, the mistletoe order, and is placed within the family Loranthaceae. The name Muellerina was first published by Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem in 1895,^[6] where one New Zealand species, Muellerina raoullii, and two Australian species (Muellerina celastroides and M. eucalyptifolia - now M. eucalyptoides) are given.^[7] Further Australian Muellerina species are listed in van Tieghem.^[8] A further article by van Tieghem further discussing the relationships of Loranthaceae genera is van Tieghem.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Muellerina . 1 December 2013. Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra.
2. Web site: Genus Muellerina . 1 December 2013 . Quirico, A.L.. PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online . Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia.
3. Barlow, B.A. (1984) "Loranthaceae" in Flora of Australia Volume 22 Rhizophorales to Celastrales (p.70). Commonwealth of Australia
4. Downey, P.O. (1998) An inventory of host species for each aerial mistletoe species (Loranthaceae and Viscaceae) in Australia. (Cunninghamia 5(3) 685-720)
5. Downey, P.O. (2004) A regional examination of the mistletoe host species inventory. (Cunninghamia 8(3) 354-361)
6. Tieghem, P.E.L. van (1895) Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France 42: 25, 85, 175
7. van Tieghem, P. E. L. (1895). "Sur Les Loranthoidées De La Nouvelle-Zélande." Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France 42(1): 23-30
8. van Tieghem, P. E. L. (1895). "Sur Les Loranthoidées D' Australie." Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France 42(2): 82-88
9. van Tieghem, P. E. L. (1895). "Sur Le Groupement Des Espèces En Genres Dans Les Loranthées A Calice Dialysépale Et Anthères Oscillantes Ou Struthanthées." Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France 42(2): 161-180