About Tupeia antarctica (G.Forst.) Cham. & Schltdl.
Tupeia antarctica, commonly known as tāpia, kohuorangi, pirinoa, piritia, and white mistletoe, is a dioecious mistletoe that grows up to 1 meter wide. This species has white bark, with finely hairy twigs. Its leaves are variable in shape, fleshy, bright green, and measure between 10 and 70 millimeters long. The flowers are tiny, and the fruit ranges in color from white to pinkish. This mistletoe grows in forest or scrub habitats, parasitizing a wide range of host plants. Documented hosts include tarata (Pittosporum eugenioides), karo (Pittosporum crassifolium), Coprosma species, putaputaweta (Carpodetus serratus), fivefinger (Pseudopanax arboreus), white maire (Nestegis lanceolata), and broom. According to De Lange et al., Tupeia antarctica parasitizes approximately 48 total hosts, 11 of which are exotic. The most common host families it parasitizes are Fabaceae and Rubiaceae.
