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Botanical Family · Santalales

Loranthaceae

Mistletoe Family

16 speciesOrder Santalales8+ well-known plants

The Loranthaceae family (Mistletoe Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Santalales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 16 species across 9 genera. Its members are predominantly parasites. Well-represented genera include Viscum, Dendrophthoe and Macrosolen. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Long-leaved Mistletoe, Rubbery Mango Mistletoe and Four-Stamen Mistletoe.

Browse all 16 species ↓
Representative LORANTHACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Loranthaceae
Key pattern

Opposite, leathery leaves on woody hemi-parasitic shrubs that graft directly into a host tree's branches; small radially symmetrical flowers ripen into a sticky berry, its seed spread when birds wipe their beak on a nearby branch.

True parasites that tap directly into a host tree's vascular system for water and minerals while still photosynthesising themselves — a lifestyle called hemi-parasitism.

Identify the species

Which Loranthaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Loranthaceae species.

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Leaf SurfaceWhat does the leaf surface feel or look like?
Glabrous (smooth, hairless)
Pubescent (softly hairy)
Tomentose (woolly, matted hairs)
Leaf TypeDoes the plant have normal leaves, or jointed green leafless stems?
Leafless jointed green stems
Normal leafy shrub

Typical leaf characters

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Long-Leaved MistletoeDendrophthoe falcataRubbery Mango MistletoeHelicanthes elasticaFour-Stamen MistletoeHelixanthera wallichianaSouth Indian MistletoeMacrosolen capitellatusParasite Honey SuckleMacrosolen parasiticusHeart-Leaf MistletoeScurrula cordifoliaPomegranate Honey SuckleScurrula parasiticaHairy MistletoeTaxillus tomentosus

All 16 species in LORANTHACEAE

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