Korthalsella salicornioides

Korthalsella salicornioides
Korthalsella salicornioides on manuka
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Santalales
Family:	Santalaceae
Genus:	Korthalsella
Species:	K. salicornioides
Binomial name
Korthalsella salicornioides (A.Cunn.) Tiegh.

Korthalsella salicornioides or dwarf mistletoe is an endemic parasitic plant in New Zealand.[1]

Description

Korthalsella salicornicoides is named after the succulent coastal plant Salicornia, because it has succulent stems. These appear as a dense mass of small fleshy leafless twigs, up to 10 cm long, usually growing on the host plants manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and kanuka (Kunzea ericoides). It is reddish-yellow to green with tiny flowers and small yellow fruits from October to May.[2] It is similar to the other two species of New Zealand leafless mistletoe in the genus Korthalsella, but has denser stems arising at a narrower angle.

Conservation

This species is scattered across forests and scrublands in New Zealand, only abundant in small local patches.[3] In some areas it is threatened by felling of Leptospermum and Kunzea for firewood, farming, or exotic forestry.[2] It is classed as Threatened-Nationally Critical by the Department of Conservation.

References

1. Sultan, Amir; Tate, Jennifer A.; de Lange, Peter J.; Glenny, David; Ladley, Jenny J.; Heenan, Peter; Robertson, Alastair W. (2018-04-03). "Host range, host specificity, regional host preferences and genetic variability of Korthalsella Tiegh. (Viscaceae) mistletoes in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 56 (2): 127–162. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2018.1464476. ISSN 0028-825X. S2CID 89798933.
2. "Korthalsella salicornioides | New Zealand Plant Conservation Network". www.nzpcn.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
3. Barkla, John (August 2020). "New exotic host for the dwarf mistletoe Korthalsella salicornioides" (PDF). Trilepidea. 201: 1.