The species in the genus are small hemiparasitic shrubs with simple or forked hairs and a single haustorial attachment. They have 1-3 flowers which are borne in the axils, and bracts are cup-shaped with a small limb. The petal structure is tubular below, with radially arranged lobes that first spread and are later reflexed. The tube itself has basal swelling, and is constricted and narrowly funnel-shaped above. The filaments are erect, with the upper part thickened and coiling at the ends. The berry of the plants are shaped narrowly obovoid.[2][3]
Like several other African genera of hemiparasitic shrubs, Actinanthella is extremely specialized for pollination. Not only do their petals change coloration once mature to attract pollinators, but their corollas also split to form an opening through which sunbirds can insert their beaks. When that happens, a rapid response triggers, opening the flower and depositing pollen on the pollinator's head.[5]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Actinanthella Balle". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
^"Flora of Mozambique: Genus page: Actinanthella". www.mozambiqueflora.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
^"Flora of Zimbabwe: Genus page: Actinanthella". www.zimbabweflora.co.zw. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
^Grímsson, Friðgeir; Xafis, Alexandros; Neumann, Frank H.; Scott, Louis; Bamford, Marion K.; Zetter, Reinhard (2018-07-04). "The first Loranthaceae fossils from Africa". Grana. 57 (4): 249–259. doi:10.1080/00173134.2018.1430167. ISSN 0017-3134. PMC5940175. PMID 29780299.
^Vidal-Russell, Romina; Nickrent, Daniel L. (2008). "Evolutionary relationships in the showy mistletoe family (Loranthaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 95 (8): 1015–1029. doi:10.3732/ajb.0800085. ISSN 0002-9122. PMID 21632422.
January 01, 1970
actinanthella, small, genus, hemiparasitic, shrubs, loranthaceae, family, they, found, saharan, africa, specifically, mozambique, zambia, zimbabwe, wyliei, scientific, classification, kingdom, plantae, clade, tracheophytes, clade, angiosperms, clade, eudicots,. Actinanthella is a small genus of hemiparasitic shrubs in the Loranthaceae family They are found in Sub Saharan Africa specifically in Mozambique Zambia and Zimbabwe 1 Actinanthella Actinanthella wyliei Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Order Santalales Family Loranthaceae Subtribe Tapinanthinae Genus ActinanthellaBalle Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Ecology 4 ReferencesTaxonomy editThere are two species in the genus 1 Actinanthella menyharthii Engl amp Schinz Balle Actinanthella wyliei Sprague WiensDescription editThe species in the genus are small hemiparasitic shrubs with simple or forked hairs and a single haustorial attachment They have 1 3 flowers which are borne in the axils and bracts are cup shaped with a small limb The petal structure is tubular below with radially arranged lobes that first spread and are later reflexed The tube itself has basal swelling and is constricted and narrowly funnel shaped above The filaments are erect with the upper part thickened and coiling at the ends The berry of the plants are shaped narrowly obovoid 2 3 Ecology editThe recorded host plants of Actinanthella are Erythroxylum Boscia and Olea 4 Like several other African genera of hemiparasitic shrubs Actinanthella is extremely specialized for pollination Not only do their petals change coloration once mature to attract pollinators but their corollas also split to form an opening through which sunbirds can insert their beaks When that happens a rapid response triggers opening the flower and depositing pollen on the pollinator s head 5 References edit a b Actinanthella Balle Plants of the World Online Retrieved 2020 12 11 Flora of Mozambique Genus page Actinanthella www mozambiqueflora com Retrieved 2020 12 11 Flora of Zimbabwe Genus page Actinanthella www zimbabweflora co zw Retrieved 2020 12 13 Grimsson Fridgeir Xafis Alexandros Neumann Frank H Scott Louis Bamford Marion K Zetter Reinhard 2018 07 04 The first Loranthaceae fossils from Africa Grana 57 4 249 259 doi 10 1080 00173134 2018 1430167 ISSN 0017 3134 PMC 5940175 PMID 29780299 Vidal Russell Romina Nickrent Daniel L 2008 Evolutionary relationships in the showy mistletoe family Loranthaceae American Journal of Botany 95 8 1015 1029 doi 10 3732 ajb 0800085 ISSN 0002 9122 PMID 21632422 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Actinanthella amp oldid 1011868574, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
