Botanical name:

Ileostylus micranthus

Common name(s):

Green mistletoe, pirita

About:

I. micranthus is a woody, many-branched shrub that can grow up to 1 m in height, featuring green to yellow-green, leathery leaves that add to its distinctive appearance. Functioning as a partial parasite, this intriguing plant attaches itself to its host through ball-like masses of runners, which connect to the host via a specialised root structure known as haustoria. These haustoria are positioned at various intervals along the branch of the host, allowing I. micranthus to effectively secure itself while deriving nutrients.

Natural habitat:

Mainly a coastal and lowland species which rarely extends into upper montane forest. Prefers shrub-land and secondary regrowth. This species shows some regional host specificity but nevertheless has been recorded from a wide range (nearly 300) of indigenous and exotic hosts. One of the few indigenous mistletoe’s to regularly grow in urban situations.

Growing environment:

Shade & Coastal, Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North, South and Stewart Islands, also present on Norfolk Island.

Height: 1m

Flowering: 

September – December with a green coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December - July

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Forests

How to grow:

Difficult. For best results use fresh fruit. Fruit should be squeezed gently so that seed is exposed. The exposed seed should be placed on a suitable host branchlet (ideally in dry weather so that the fruit does not wash off) and allowed to dry. Sometimes the fruit may need to be covered with netting to exclude birds. Then its up to the Gods! Seed almost always germinates (it will even germinate on glass) but unless an attachment is formed (and this may take months) the young plant soon dies. Some people find growing Ileostylus straight forward, others tricky. The process is often rather hit and miss and best results seem to be achieved when seed is placed on the same host plant (ideally the same genotype of the host) as that parasitised by the mother plant.

** The seeds are perishable and cannot be stored. After collection & cleaning the seed should be sown immediately.