Amyema is a genus of semi-parasitic shrubs (mistletoes) which occur in Malesia and Australia.
Etymology Amyema derives from the Greek: a (negative), and myeo (I initiate), referring to the genus being previously unrecognised.
Description Hamilton & Barlow describe the haustorial structures of most Australian Amyemas as being ball-like, with some exceptions.
Species There are approximately 90 species including the following: Amyema arthrocaulis Barlow Amyema artensis (Mont.) Dan. (indigenous to Upolu and Savai'i, known as tapuna.) Amyema benthamii (Blakely) Danser Amyema betchei (Blakely) Danser Amyema bifurcata (Benth.) Tiegh. Amyema biniflora Barlow Amyema brassii Barlow Amyema brevipes (Tiegh.) Danser Amyema cambagei (Blakely) Danser Amyema congener (Sieber ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Tiegh. Amyema conspicua (F.M.Bailey) Danser Amyema dolichopoda Barlow Amyema duurenii Barlow Amyema eburna (Barlow) Barlow Amyema fitzgeraldii (Blakely) Danser - pincushion mistletoe Amyema gaudichaudii (DC.) Tiegh. Amyema gibberula (Tate) Danser Amyema glabra (Domin) Danser Amyema haematodes (O.Schwarz) Danser Amyema herbertiana Barlow Amyema hilliana (Blakely) Danser Amyema linophylla (Fenzl) Tiegh. Amyema lisae Pelser & Barcelona Amyema lucasii (Blakely) Danser Amyema mackayensis (Blakely) Danser Amyema maidenii (Blakely) Barlow Amyema melaleucae (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tiegh. Amyema microphylla Barlow Amyema miquelii (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tiegh. - stalked mistletoe Amyema miraculosa (Miq.) Tiegh. Amyema nestor (S.Moore) Danser Amyema nickrentii Barcelona & Pelser Amyema pendula (Sieber ex Spreng.) Tiegh. - drooping mistletoe Amyema plicatula (K.Krause) Danser Amyema preissii (Miq.) Tiegh. - wireleaf mistletoe Amyema quandang (Lindl.) Tiegh. Amyema quaternifolia Barlow Amyema queenslandica (Blakely) Danser Amyema sanguinea (F.Muell.) Danser Amyema seemeniana (K.Schum.) Danser Amyema subcapitata Barlow Amyema tetraflora (Barlow) Barlow Amyema tetrapetala (Danser) Barlow Amyema thalassia Barlow Amyema tridactyla Barlow Amyema tristis (Zoll.) Tiegh. Amyema verticillata (Merr.) Danser Amyema villiflora (Domin) Barlow Amyema whitei (Blakely) Danser
Faunal associations The mistletoebird is known to consume the fruit of Amyema quandang as well as other mistletoe species from which its name is derived.
Larvae of the butterfly genus Delias often use various Amyema species as larval food plants. In doing so, the adults acquire a taste that is unpalatable to predators.
Uses The fruit of Amyema species is high in protein, lipids, and carbohydrates, and was eaten by the Ngunnawal people.Ngunnawal Elders & their families. 2014. Ngunnawal Plant Use, ACT Government,
References
External links