Hairy mistletoe | |
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E. dregei on a Croton sylvaticus host at Amanzimtoti, South Africa | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Santalales |
Family: | Loranthaceae |
Genus: | Erianthemum |
Species: | E. dregei
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Binomial name | |
Erianthemum dregei | |
Synonyms | |
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Erianthemum dregei is a species of parasitic plant in the family Loranthaceae, and is commonly known as the hairy mistletoe or wood flower. [1]
These plants are native to Africa and are parasitic on a large number of tree species in higher rainfall areas [2] from the Eastern Cape of South Africa, through KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini and Mpumalanga, [1] to East Africa, as far as northern Ethiopia. [3] They are also found in southern Angola. [3]
A branched parasitic shrub with spreading or pendent stems, [2] [3] forming clumps of up to 2m x 1.5m. [1] The leaves are leathery and hairless, usually alternate (sometimes opposite [2]), with conspicuous side veins. [1] The growing points are velvety brown. [1] The flowers are massed in small clusters and are densely hairy, [1] pale yellowish-green and sometimes flushed orange to pink. [2] The fruit is an orange to bright red berry, 10–15 mm in size. [3] Erianthemum dregei shows great variation across its range. [3]
Erianthemum dregei is used in African traditional medicine to treat stomach complaints in children and cattle. [1]
The flowers and fruit attract birds. [1] The leaves are eaten by the larvae of Mylothris agathina. [4]