Psittacanthus, also parrot-flower, is a plant genus in the family Loranthaceae. It is a type of mistletoe native from central Mexico southwards to Central America and parts of South America. It differs from most other Loranthaceae genera by its large flowers and bulky haustorial connections to its host, and by its large fruits. Its flowers frequently "light up the host tree in brilliant hues of red or red and yellow".

Life cycle

From inoculation of a branch with the seed to production of new seed on the plant requires about five years. Psittacanthus is dispersed by birds feeding on fruits and defecating on branches. Once the mistletoe is established, it flowers yearly. A five-year study of Psittacanthus calyculatus on Pinus douglasiana found that only five months after the sticky seed has inoculated the host tree, are the first true leaves produced. In the May of the fourth year after infection, the shoots start to produce flower bud full flowering and pollination occurring in November and December. (Hummingbirds and passerines are thought to be the pollinators. ) Fruit maturation takes about a year and occurs from November to February of the fifth year. The long life cycle means that infestations may be relatively easily controlled when trees are to be harvested for forestry.

Accepted species

1. Psittacanthus acinarius (Mart.) Mart.
2. Psittacanthus amazonicus (Ule) Kuijt
3. Psittacanthus americanus (L.) Mart.
4. Psittacanthus angustifolius Kuijt
5. Psittacanthus auriculatus (Oliv.) Eichler
6. Psittacanthus bicalyculatus (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Mart.
7. Psittacanthus biternatus (Hoffmanns.) G.Don
8. Psittacanthus brachynema Eichler
9. Psittacanthus brasiliensis (Desr.) G.Don
10. Psittacanthus breedlovei Kuijt
11. Psittacanthus calcaratus A.C.Sm.
12. Psittacanthus calyculatus (DC.) G.Don
13. Psittacanthus cardiphyllus (Willd. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Eichler
14. Psittacanthus chanduyensis Eichler
15. Psittacanthus cinctus (Mart.) Mart.
16. Psittacanthus circulatus Rizzini
17. Psittacanthus clusiifolius Eichler
18. Psittacanthus coccineus Pacz.
19. Psittacanthus cordatus (Hoffmanns. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) G.Don
20. Psittacanthus cordiae K.Krause
21. Psittacanthus costanensis Steyerm.
22. Psittacanthus crassifolius Mart.
23. Psittacanthus cucullaris (Lam.) G.Don
24. Psittacanthus dichrous (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Mart.
25. Psittacanthus dilatatus A.C.Sm.
26. Psittacanthus divaricatus (Kunth) G.Don
27. Psittacanthus eucalyptifolius (Kunth) G.Don
29. Psittacanthus gracilipes Rizzini
30. Psittacanthus grandifolius Mart.
31. Psittacanthus hamulifer Kuijt
32. Psittacanthus irwinii Rizzini
33. Psittacanthus julianus Rizzini
34. Psittacanthus karwinskyanus (Schult. & Schult.f.) Eichler
35. Psittacanthus kerberi Engl.
36. Psittacanthus krameri Kuijt
37. Psittacanthus krausei J.F.Macbr.
38. Psittacanthus lasianthus Sandwith
39. ''Psittacanthus gigas
40. Psittacanthus lasserianus Rizzini
41. Psittacanthus linearis (Killip) J.F.Macbr.
42. Psittacanthus macrantherus Eichler
43. Psittacanthus martinicensis (C.Presl) Eichler
44. Psittacanthus mayanus Standl. & Steyerm.
45. Psittacanthus melinonii (Tiegh.) Engl.
46. Psittacanthus mexicanus (C.Presl ex Schult. & Schult.f.) G.Don
47. Psittacanthus microphyllus Kuijt
48. Psittacanthus mirandensis Rizzini
49. Psittacanthus montis-neblinae Rizzini
50. Psittacanthus nodosissimus Rizzini
51. Psittacanthus nudus (Ant.Molina) Kuijt & Feuer
52. Psittacanthus oblongifolius (Rusby) Kuijt
53. Psittacanthus palmeri (S.Watson) Barlow & Wiens
54. Psittacanthus pangui Kuijt
55. Psittacanthus paxianus (Patsch.) Kuijt
56. Psittacanthus peculiaris A.C.Sm.
57. Psittacanthus peronopetalus Eichler
58. Psittacanthus pinicola Kuijt
59. Psittacanthus ramiflorus (Moc. & Sessé ex DC.) G.Don
60. Psittacanthus rhynchanthus (Benth.) Kuijt
61. Psittacanthus robustus (Mart.) Marloth
62. Psittacanthus scheryi Woodson
63. Psittacanthus schiedeanus (Schltdl. & Cham.) G.Don
64. Psittacanthus sonorae (S.Watson) Kuijt
65. Psittacanthus subalatus K.Krause
66. Psittacanthus truncatus Kuijt
67. Psittacanthus tumbecensis (Killip) J.F.Macbr.
68. Psittacanthus wiensii Kuijt
69. Psittacanthus zonatus (Diels) Kuijt

Etymology

Psittacanthos comes from the Greek psittakos (parrot), and the Greek anthos (flower), possibly chosen, according to Don, because of the bright colours.