Dendrophthoe odontocalyx (F. Muell. ex Benth.) Tiegh.

Distribution Map

Dendrophthoe odontocalyx (F. Muell. ex Benth.) Tiegh. Bull. Soc. Bot. France 42: 87 (1895).

Loranthus odontocalyx F. Muell. ex Benth. Fl. Austral. 3: 391 (1867).  T: between McAdam Range and Providence Hill, northern Australia, Oct. 1855, F. Mueller s.n.; holo: MEL; iso: NSW.

Elytranthe bleeseri O. Schwarz, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 24: 82 (1927).  T: Koolpinyah, N. T., F. A. K. Bleeser 371; iso: NSW.

Plant spreading to pendulous; young shoots, inflorescence and sometimes whole plant white-tomentose; epicortical runner present.  Leaves displaced-opposite or alternate, lanceolate to broadly elliptic, obtuse or rounded; lamina usually 4-10 cm long and 10-35 mm wide, attenuate to contracted at base into petiole 5-15 mm long, isobilateral, leathery; venation distinct or obscure except prominent midrib. Inflorescence axis 5-20 mm long, with 3-8 flowers; pedicels 2-6 mm long; bracts 1 mm long, acute.  Calyx 1-2 mm long, prominently toothed.  Corolla in mature bud 3-4 cm long, yellow to red.  Anthers usually 5-7 mm long, usually slightly longer than free part of filament.  Fruit ovoid, 12-15 mm long, yellow to red.

Distribution: In Flora of Australia account, listed as endeminc to the Northern Territory, from Melville Island to Borroloola, in monsoon forest and woodland on various trees but especially on Eucalyptus, Grevillea, and Syzygium.  Barlow, in a communication to G. Glatzel, said "This species was originally thought to be endemic to the Top End of the Northern Territory, but then we found specimens in the Kimberley, and later when working at Leiden I recognized it in specimens from Timor, Alor, Sumbawa and east Java.  So apparently it is now a new record for New Ireland as well, and I assume it is still awaiting discovery in mainland PNG."

Dendrophthoe odontocalyx.  Flower buds not quite mature.  Kavieng, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.  Photo by G. Glatzel August 2005.

Dendrophthoe odontocalyx.  Flower buds not quite mature.  Kavieng, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.  Photo by G. Glatzel August 2005.

Dendrophthoe odontocalyx

updated 22 January 2007