292 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



chlorophyll. 



Perianth either sepal-like or petaloid. Stamens 

 joined to the perianth, and as many 

 as its lobes. Fruit a berry, sunk 

 in the fleshy receptacle. Around the 

 seed is a very sticky substance, which 

 prevents it from being swallowed by 

 birds. In freeing its bill from the 

 seed the bird sows the seed on the 

 tree. 



Fig. 263. — Floral diagram of 

 Loranthus (Hooker). 



Loranthus 



style long. 



Viscum. — Flowers 

 none, or very short. 



Flowers perfect; showy 

 dioecious ; style 



Loranthus. — Shrubby plants, w4th opposite or alternate 

 leaves. Flowers in umbels, axillary, orange, scarlet, or white 

 with dark tips (see p. 161). Parasitic on Acacia, Rhus, and 

 other plants. It adapts itself not only to native plants but to 

 introduced plants as well, such as oak, apple, etc. Eastern. 



Viscum (Mistletoe). — Shrubs with forked, jointed green 

 stems, leafy or leafless. Berries white or reddish. Parasitic 

 on Euphorbia, Willow, Crassula, etc. Several species, both 

 Eastern and Western. Dr. Marloth states that Viscum may 

 grow on Loranthus, or the reverse may be seen. 



Order Hydnorace^. 



Fleshy, scaly- coloured root parasites, becoming very woody. 

 Calyx 3-parted. Fruit indehiscent, many-seeded.^ 



Hydnora is a parasite on the roots of Euphorbia. The 

 bright red flowers are the colour of raw meat. A large glandular 

 cushion on the inner surface of each of the three perianth 

 lobes secretes an ill-scented fluid which induces insects to visit 

 these striking plants. A fringe of hairs projects downwards 

 from the top of the petals. These at first prevent the insect 



^ The distribution of this order shows a relation between the flora 

 of the Old World and that of the New. It is placed by some in the order 

 Rafflesiaceae which is found in South America. (Engler retains the order 

 Hydnoraceae but places Cytinns in the South American order.) 



