Amyema plicatula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amyema plicatula |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amyema
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| Species: |
pliculata
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| Synonyms | |
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Amyema angularis Barlow |
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Amyema pliculata is a special kind of plant. It's a species of hemi-parasitic shrub. This means it gets some of its food and water from other plants, like a friendly helper! You can find it in places like the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Contents
What Does Amyema pliculata Look Like?
This plant grows as a shrub that attaches to the stems of other plants. It has short "runners" that help it spread on the host plant's bark.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves are usually opposite each other on the stem. They are shaped like an oval or wider at the top. They measure about 5.5 to 11 cm long and 3 to 8 cm wide. You might not see clear veins on them. Sometimes, the leaves grow in groups of three or four. They sit on short stalks, about 0.4 to 0.8 cm long.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers grow in clusters called umbels. The main stem of the flower cluster is about 12 to 20 mm long. The smaller stems in the cluster are about 5 to 10 mm long. The individual flowers are stalkless.
The outer parts of the flower, called calyx lobes, are very small or missing. The petals, called corolla lobes, are red. They are about 20 to 23 mm long and 8 to 10 mm wide. Inside, the anthers (which hold pollen) are about 3 mm long. The filaments (stalks holding the anthers) are about 8 mm long. The style (part of the female flower) is about 20 mm long.
The ovary, which will become the fruit, is about 2 to 3 mm long. The fruits are shaped like an oval or wider at the top. They are about 7 to 10 mm long. Often, you can still see the calyx and style at the very top of the ripe fruit.
Where Does Amyema pliculata Grow?
In New South Wales, Australia, you can find this plant in the leftover parts of rainforests on the North Coast. In Queensland, it has only been found once in the northeast.
Outside Australia, it grows in rainforests and humid open forests. It can be found from sea level up to 1600 meters high.
Its Plant Family Tree
Amyema pliculata belongs to a group of plants called Santalales. This group is also known as the mistletoe order. It is part of the plant family called Loranthaceae.
This plant was first described in 1923 by a scientist named Kurt Krause. He called it Loranthus plicatulus. Later, in 1929, another scientist named Danser moved it to the genus Amyema.
The name of its genus, Amyema, comes from ancient Greek words. It means 'without' and 'to instruct'.
Who Are Its Host Plants?
A scientist named Downey has recorded only one plant that Amyema pliculata uses as a host. This host plant is called Dysoxylum fraseranum. It belongs to the Meliaceae family, which includes plants like mahogany.
