Psittacanthus

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

1. Psittacanthus dichrous (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Mart.

2. Psittacanthus dilatatus A.C.Sm.

3. Psittacanthus divaricatus (Kunth) G.Don

4. Psittacanthus eucalyptifolius (Kunth) G.Don

5.

6. Psittacanthus gracilipes Rizzini

7. Psittacanthus grandifolius Mart.

8. Psittacanthus hamulifer Kuijt

9. Psittacanthus irwinii Rizzini

10. Psittacanthus julianus Rizzini

11. Psittacanthus karwinskyanus (Schult. & Schult.f.) Eichler

12. Psittacanthus kerberi Engl.

13. Psittacanthus krameri Kuijt

14. Psittacanthus krausei J.F.Macbr.

15. Psittacanthus lasianthus Sandwith

16. ''Psittacanthus gigas

17. Psittacanthus lasserianus Rizzini

18. Psittacanthus linearis (Killip) J.F.Macbr.

19. Psittacanthus macrantherus Eichler

20. Psittacanthus martinicensis (C.Presl) Eichler

21. Psittacanthus mayanus Standl. & Steyerm.

22. Psittacanthus melinonii (Tiegh.) Engl.

23. Psittacanthus mexicanus (C.Presl ex Schult. & Schult.f.) G.Don

24. Psittacanthus microphyllus Kuijt

25. Psittacanthus mirandensis Rizzini

1. Psittacanthus montis-neblinae Rizzini

2. Psittacanthus nodosissimus Rizzini

3. Psittacanthus nudus (Ant.Molina) Kuijt & Feuer

4. Psittacanthus oblongifolius (Rusby) Kuijt

5. Psittacanthus palmeri (S.Watson) Barlow & Wiens

6. Psittacanthus pangui Kuijt

7. Psittacanthus paxianus (Patsch.) Kuijt

8. Psittacanthus peculiaris A.C.Sm.

9. Psittacanthus peronopetalus Eichler

10. Psittacanthus pinicola Kuijt

11. Psittacanthus ramiflorus (Moc. & Sessé ex DC.) G.Don

12. Psittacanthus rhynchanthus (Benth.) Kuijt

13. Psittacanthus robustus (Mart.) Marloth

14. Psittacanthus scheryi Woodson

15. Psittacanthus schiedeanus (Schltdl. & Cham.) G.Don

16. Psittacanthus sonorae (S.Watson) Kuijt

17. Psittacanthus subalatus K.Krause

18. Psittacanthus truncatus Kuijt

19. Psittacanthus tumbecensis (Killip) J.F.Macbr.

20. Psittacanthus wiensii Kuijt

21. 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.