Psittacanthus calyculatus
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| Psittacanthus calyculatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Psittacanthus calyculatus in de Candolle in 1830 | |
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| Psittacanthus calyculatus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Loranthaceae |
| Genus: | Psittacanthus |
| Species: | P. calyculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Psittacanthus calyculatus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Psittacanthus calyculatus (erva de passerinho) is a species of Neotropical mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae, native to Colombia, Mexico, the Mexican Gulf, and Venezuela.[2]
Life cycle
In October or November, the fruit matures, and is eaten by a bird, who voids the seed. By November, if the defecation site is a suitable branch, the seed may have infected the host, and initial buds will start to appear.[4] Vegetative growth continues, until, four years after the initial infection, the plant flowers in November, with fruit becoming mature the following year from October to February.[4] Thus, there are some five years required for its life-cycle.[4]
Ecology
Vasquez Collazo and Geils (2002) report eleven observed conifer hosts for Psittacanthus calyculatus: Abies religiosa, Pinus gordoniana, P. lawsonii, P. leiophylla, P. michoacana, P. pseudostrobus, P. teocote, P. montezumae, P. herrerai, P. pringlei, and P. rudis.[4]
At least nineteen bird species (insectivores, omnivores, and granivores) have been seen feeding on the fruits.[4]