About Amyema miraculosa (Miq.) Tiegh.
Amyema miraculosa, commonly called the fleshy mistletoe and the round-leaf mistletoe, is a native Australian mistletoe found in all Australian states except Tasmania. It is a woody hemiparasitic plant that belongs to the Loranthaceae family. As a hemiparasite, it obtains water and minerals from its host plant, but carries out photosynthesis to produce its own carbohydrates. This species has thick, fleshy leaves with rounded tips. Its dark red flowers grow in groups of three, and its fruit is a narrow-shaped yellow berry. Amyema miraculosa forms dense, upright clumps, and often parasitises other parasitic plants, making it an epiparasite. It has been recorded growing on 41 different host species, and prefers hosts from the Santalum family and other Loranthaceae species. There are two recognised subspecies of Amyema miraculosa in Australia. A. miraculosa subsp. boormanii occurs mostly in the eastern half of the Australian continent, while A. miraculosa subsp. miraculosa is found mainly in Western Australia. Its tubular red flowers are primarily pollinated by birds. After the fruit develops, it is dispersed by other types of birds, with the main disperser being the mistletoe bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum). Seeds pass quickly through the bird's digestive system; if a seed is deposited on a branch of a suitable host species, it will grow into a new individual. Amyema miraculosa also acts as a host plant for butterflies and their caterpillars.
