558 TREES AFFECTED BY LOHANTHS AND VISCUMS, 



It does not appear that exotic trees and shrul^s having a rough 

 bark, which one would naturally suppose offered greater facilities 

 for the seeds of parasitical plants to lodge and germinate, are 

 more suitable as hosts than those having a smooth bark. An 

 illustration of this is found in the oriental plane ( Platauus 

 orientalis, Linn.), on the very smooth bark of which I have seen 

 many Loranths growing. Many smooth-liarked deciduous fruit 

 trees appear to be particularly infested with species of the genera 

 Loranthus and Viscum. 



Since I have drawn attention to these parasitical plants in 

 different parts of the country, it has often been a fruitful source 

 of conjecture as to how they became established on exotic trees 

 and shrubs. After giving some thought to this subject, I think 

 there can be little doubt that birds, some of which are known to 

 eat the fruits of the species of the genera Loranthus and Viscum, 

 void the seeds, or carry the one-seeded viscid crushed fruits in, or 

 attached to, their claws, or on the sides of their beaks, and leave 

 them on the branches or in the forks of the trees and shrubs 

 when visiting them, either to eat the fruits they yield or to rest 

 themselves. 



Several writers have asserted that the leaves of the indigenous 

 Loranths assume the character of those of their hosts, more 

 particularly when growing upon different species of Eucalyptus, 

 Castiarina, Banksia, kc. However this may be with regard to 

 the indigenous vegetation, this leaf -mimicry, so far as my observa- 

 tions go, does not take place when the native parasitical plants 

 are growing upon exotic trees and shrubs. It seems to be a 

 matter of very little consequence what kind of exotic tree or 

 shrub the native parasitical plants may grow upon, their botanical 

 characteristics are not altered to any very great extent. 



The indigenous parasitical plants which I have seen growing 

 on exotic trees and shrubs in this country are — Loranthus celas- 

 troides, Sieb., L. pendulus, Sieb., and Viscum articulatum, Burm., 

 the first two named being much more common than the last. 



The following are the botantical names, common names, and 

 also the hal)itats of the trees and shrubs upon which I have seen 

 Australian parasitical plants growing. 



