Jump to content

Viscum: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
SieBot (talk | contribs)
m robot Adding: ka:ფითრი
Rkitko (talk | contribs)
Updating taxobox classification to the APG III system using AWB
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Taxobox
{{taxobox
| image = MistletoeInSilverBirch.jpg
|image = MistletoeInSilverBirch.jpg
|image_caption = ''Viscum album'' growing on a [[poplar|''Populus'']] species
| image_width = 240px
|regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| image_caption = ''Viscum album'' growing on a [[poplar|''Populus'']] species
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
|unranked_ordo = [[Core eudicots]]
| ordo = [[Santalales]]
|ordo = [[Santalales]]
| familia = [[Santalaceae]]
|familia = [[Santalaceae]]
| genus = '''''Viscum'''''
|genus = '''''Viscum'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
|genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
|subdivision = See text
}}
|}}


'''''Viscum''''' is a genus of about 70-100 species of [[mistletoe]]s, native to temperate and tropical regions of [[Europe]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[Australasia]]. Traditionally, the genus has been placed in its own family [[Viscaceae]], but recent genetic research by the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] shows this family to be correctly placed within a larger circumscription of the [[Santalum|sandalwood]] family, [[Santalaceae]].
'''''Viscum''''' is a genus of about 70-100 species of [[mistletoe]]s, native to temperate and tropical regions of [[Europe]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[Australasia]]. Traditionally, the genus has been placed in its own family [[Viscaceae]], but recent genetic research by the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] shows this family to be correctly placed within a larger circumscription of the [[Santalum|sandalwood]] family, [[Santalaceae]].

Revision as of 02:08, 30 October 2010

Viscum
Viscum album growing on a Populus species
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Viscum

Species

See text

Viscum is a genus of about 70-100 species of mistletoes, native to temperate and tropical regions of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Traditionally, the genus has been placed in its own family Viscaceae, but recent genetic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group shows this family to be correctly placed within a larger circumscription of the sandalwood family, Santalaceae.

They are woody hemi-parasitic shrubs with branches 15–80 centimetres (5.9–31.5 in) long, which grow on other trees. The foliage is dichotomously or verticillately branching, with opposite pairs or whorls of green leaves which perform some photosynthesis (minimal in some species, notably V. nudum), but with the plant drawing its mineral and water needs from the host tree. Different species of Viscum tend to use different host species; most species are able to utilise several different host species.

The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, 1–3 millimetres (0.039–0.118 in) diameter. The fruit is a berry, white, yellow, orange, or red when mature, containing several seeds embedded in very sticky juice; the seeds are dispersed when birds (notably the Mistle Thrush) eat the fruit, and remove the sticky seeds from the bill by wiping them on tree branches where they can germinate.

Selected species
In spring

References

  • Flora of China: Viscum
  • Flora of Pakistan: Viscum
  • Flora Europaea: Viscum
  • "Viscum L." Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  • Mistletoe Pages: Viscum