110. LORANTHACE^. [i. Loranthus. 



5 straight fine. Petiole •1--25". Flowers yellowish-green or greenish- 

 white clustered, only -3" long at first, scaly and pubescent, lengthening 

 by the growth of the portion surrounding the ovary and part above- 

 constriction finally deciduous. Fruit -75" oblong-ellipsoid, ribbed. 



Mais of Puri ! Fl. Nov. Fr. Jan. Everg-reen. 



FAM. 119. LORANTHACE^. 



Green parasitic shrubs attaching themselves by means of haustoria 

 to the branches of other woody plants, with opposite or alternate 

 simple entire leaves or leaves reduced to scales and their functions 

 assumed by the often flattened green branches. Flowers from small,, 

 regular to brightly coloured and a tendency to zygomorphy, 1-2-sexual,^ 

 usually bracteate and often 2-bracteolate, in racemes, spikes or 

 fascicles. Hypanthium adnate to the ovary and sometimes growing 

 up as an entire or toothed ring (" calyculus ") above it. Perianth 

 sepaloid or petaloid of 4-6 tepals free or connate into a tube below, 

 valvate in bud. Stamens as many as the tepals, opposite to and 

 usually adnate to them. Ovary inferior, 1 -celled, style short or long, 

 stigma simple. Ovule and placenta not differentiated, completely filling 

 the ovary, with usually 1, rarely 2-3 embryo sacs. Fruit baccate, 

 rarely drupaceous, with a viscid inner layer, by means of which it 

 becomes adherent to the future host. 



Calyculus pi-esent.* Flowers 2-sexual, often sho\AT ■ • . I. Loranthus. 



Caljculus 0. Flowers 1-sexual, green or yellowish . . . .2. Viscum. 



1. LORANTHUS, L. 



Leaves opposite or alternate, usually broad. Flowers 2-sexual, 

 green or coloured. Hypanthium usually produced into a calyculus 

 which is sometimes reduced to a mere rim. Tepals free or perianth 

 forming a split or entire tube below, lobes reflexed or spreading. 

 Stamens epiph3dlous, anthers versatile or cells adnate, parallel. 



A. Calj'culus broadly tubular. Flowers distinctly racemed : — 



Flowers 1" or more. Bracteoles 1. lonpiflorns^ 



Flowers '5", angled. Bracteoles present 2, glohoms. 



B. Calyculus a mere rim. Flowers in tomentose fascicles or very 



short raceroes: — 

 Leaves under 3" broad, base usually cuneate . . . .3. scnrnda. 

 Leaves mostly over 3" broad, base cordate . . . .4, cordifolius: 



1. L. longiflorus, Desr. Banda, H., >S. ; Sum, A'. ; Madung, Or. 



A woody branch-parasite with glabrous branches and usually 

 broad, but variously shaped, opposite or alternate, sessile or shortly 

 petioled, thickly coriaceous, glabrous leaves mostly about 3-6" long. 

 Flowers showy scarlet and orange or sometimes pink, 1-2'' long, in 

 axillary and extra-axillary secund racemes 1-4" long. Hypanthium 

 with calj^culus, -I-'IS", calj^culus distinct broadly tubular usually 

 truncate or only faintly toothed. Perianth slender tubular split 

 at the back and slightly curved with 5 linear-oblong often green lobes 

 •3--4" long. Fruit oblong -5" crowned with the calyculus. 

 * A mere rim in some species. 



801 



