Phoradendron aphyllum Steyerm.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part X. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 29: 1-288.

  • Family

    Viscaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Phoradendron aphyllum Steyerm.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - GUYANA. Shady forest, Merume Mountains, Partang River, 1140 m, 2 Jul 1960, Tillett et al 43964; Kako River, same Basin, 550 m, 23 Sep 1960, S. S. Tillett & C. L. Tillett 45512A.

  • Discussion

    This species is worthy of note both by its habit and by lack of cataphylls. It is no more than 15 cm high and entirely leafless, presenting a black color in the herbarium. The branches are ramified at every node. The short spikes have articles with only 6 flowers each. Despite the minute dimensions reached by the plants, the fruits attain up to 7 mm in length. As I take it, P. aphyllum is unique among South American mistletoes because, lacking cataphylls, it is to be considered the sole representative of the subgenus Boreales Trel. in South America; all other Boreales inhabit North America. It has been described recently for Venezuela and now reported for the first time outside that country.

  • Distribution

    GUYANA. Shady forest, Merume Mountains, Partang River, 1140 m, 2 Jul 1960, Tillett et al 43964; Kako River, same Basin, 550 m, 23 Sep 1960, S. S. Tillett & C. L. Tillett 45512A.

    Guyana South America|