Amyema sanguinea

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

This spectacular example of the mistletoe Amyema sanguinea was seen growing at Kata-Tjuta in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant in the family Loranthaceae, a family classification commonly known as the “showy mistletoes”.

The erect flowers can be coloured from pinky-red to an orange-red. They can flower between January and December, with these photos taken in early December in Central Australia.

Amyema sanguinea are native to Australia. They are found growing in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Loranthaceae
Genus: Amyema
Species: A. sanguinea
Binomial name: Amyema sanguinea