Mistletoes Family Loranthaceae . Amyema species and Lysiana species
What do they look like ? Mistletoes are parasitic plants , growing on other plants . They are deposited by birds via seeds onto ‘ host ’ trees . They tap into the host tree , drawing water and nutrients from that tree . Mistletoe leaves are variable but often resemble those of the host plant , often noticeable by their dense growth among the tree ’ s less dense foliage . Many have obvious red or orange tubular flowers with stamens projecting from the end .
Where do they live ? All healthy , woody vegetation communities have some mistletoe . Many mistletoe species are specific to certain types of host tree ( e . g . eucalypts or acacias ). There are even mistletoes that parasitise other mistletoes !
What do they need to live , eat and breed ? Mistletoes are dispersed when birds eat their fruit and then excrete the sticky seeds onto suitable branches . Seeds also stick to birds ’ wings or feet , and are transported from tree to tree . Generally , mistletoes do not kill their hosts , but the health of heavily infested host trees can be reduced .
When might I see them ? Most noticeable when in flower , which may occur at any time of year .
What management actions affect this species ? Maintaining diverse , intact woodland vegetation will allow a variety of mistletoes to occur . Mistletoes are very fire sensitive and large numbers of mistletoes may indicate infrequent fire . Though mistletoes are significant resources for native animals , if they become too numerous , the health of the host trees may decline . For example , in areas where there has been extensive tree clearing , mistletoes increase in number on the few surviving trees , eventually contributing to dieback .
How do they benefit the land I manage ? Mistletoes are a very important part of healthy foodchains . They do not rely on rain to flower and fruit , so they provide critical dry season food or nesting sites for many species of insects , birds and mammals . There are specialist mistletoe breeding butterflies . Honeyeaters , such as the Painted Honeyeater and the small red and black Mistletoebird which feeds heavily on the flowers and fruit depend on mistletoes , while small birds like finches nest in them .
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