Psittacanthus schiedeanus

Psittacanthus schiedeanus is a hemiparasite growing to 1–2 metres (3–7 ft)^[3] with quadrangular stems which are flattened at the nodes. The haustorium is large. The bluish-green leaves are asymmetric and about 20 centimetres (8 in) long and 8 centimetres (3 in) wide, with stout petioles and pinnate venation. The inflorescence is terminal. The fruit is a berry.^[4] Its most remarkable feature is its seeds, which have up to twelve cotyledons (the most of any dicot, almost all of which have two; the source of the class name).^[5]

The most common hosts are oaks (Quercus species) and other hardwoods.^[4] Other hosts are the conifers Pinus leiophylla, P. montezumae, P. teocote and P. oocarpa.^[4] This species causes significant damage to pine forests used for harvesting wood.^[4] However, despite being a damaging parasite of conifers, it is important for medicine and wildlife.^[4]

Birds are important in the plant's life-cycle. They pollinate it while feeding on the nectar, and when they feed on the fruit they disperse the seeds.^[4]

Psittacanthus schiedeanus was first described by Adelbert von Chamisso and Diederich Franz Leonhard von Schlechtendal 1830 as Loranthus schiedeanus,^[6][7] and in 1834, George Don assigned it to the genus Psittacanthus.^[8][9]

Psittacanthus comes from the Greek psittakos (parrot), and the Greek anthos (flower), possibly chosen, according to Don,^[10] because of the bright colours. The epithet schiedeanus honours the collector Christian Julius Wilhelm Schiede, botanist and plant collector in Mexico.^[11]