Loranthaceae  

  ♦  .(Loranthaceae (Takhtajan, 200

Flowers usually bisexual, only rarely unisexual.Hemiparasitic brittle shrublets on tree branches (or on epiphytes), less often terrestrial shrubs, lianas, or even (Nuytsia) trees on host roots, with a single or several haustoria at ends of epicortical roots, occasionally almost Cuscuta-like in habit. Stem often dichasially branched, but without nodal construction. Vessels with simple perforations; lateral pitting alternate. Fibers short to very short, with simple or clearly bordered pits. Rays slightly to strongly heterogeneous. Axial parenchyma apotracheal. Leaves mostly opposite, less frequently alternate or verticillate, always simple, sometimes reduced to scales. Stomata mostly paracytic. Flowers rather large and brightly colored to small, in various types of inflorescences the basic unit of which is a triad or simple dichasium, rarely (Ixocactus) solitary, bisexual or rarely unisexual (plant dioecious), actinomorphic or (in African members) with a strong tendency to zygomorphic, frequently red or yellow. Calyx represented by toothed or lobed rim around the summit of ovary. Petals (3-)5–6(- 9), valvate, free or often connate below into a tube, sometimes nectariferous basally within. Stamens as many as and opposite to petals; filaments often adnate to petals; anthers 4-locular orsometimes 2-locular or 1- locular opening longitudinally. Pollen grains 3- aperturate. Nectary disc present or wanting. Gynoecium of  3–4-carpels, with very short to much elongated style and small stigma; ovary 1- locular, with commonly 4–12 ovules embedded in the erect, free-central placenta or the basal tissue of the ovary; each ovule consists essentially of monosporic, 8-nucleate female gametophyte of Polygonum-type. Suspensor highly elongate. Fruits usually laticiferous berries or drupes, mostly 1-seeded, less often 2–3-seeded; rarely fruits dry and indehiscent.
Seeds more or less covered with viscous material, embryo green, rather large, at least sometimes without obvious radicle; endosperm copious, starchy, rarely wanting at maturity. Contain triterpenes (loranthin, betulin, etc.), rather large amounts of tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and fatty acids, n = 8–12 (Wilson et Calvin 2006). nuytsieae: Nuytsia; lorantheae:, Loranthus, Plicosepalus, Oncocalyx, Phragmanthera. According to Kuijt, Loranthaceae, contrary to tradition, cannot have evolved from Santalaceae (“The flower of Loranthaceae is dichlamydous and can scarcely have a monochlamydous ancestor in Santalaceae.