Muellerina (plant)

Muellerina is a genus of parasitic aerial shrubs in the family Loranthaceae.

This Loranthaceae genus is distinguished from others by having

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

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

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, where one New Zealand species, Muellerina raoullii, and two Australian species (Muellerina celastroides and M. eucalyptifolia - now M. eucalyptoides) are given. Further Australian Muellerina species are listed in van Tieghem. A further article by van Tieghem further discussing the relationships of Loranthaceae genera is van Tieghem.

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