Neha Patil (Editor)

Viscum capense

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Kingdom
  
Plantae

Family
  
Santalaceae

Scientific name
  
Viscum capense

Order
  
Santalales

Genus
  
Viscum

Rank
  
Species

Viscum capense httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Similar
  
Viscum rotundifolium, Viscum combreticola, Viscum minimum, Viscum cruciatum, Osyris compressa

Viscum capense (common name, Cape mistletoe) is a species of Mistletoe that is indigenous to South Africa, especially the area from Cape Town, northwards along the coast up to Namibia, and eastwards as far as the Eastern Cape province.

This parasitic plant has jointed stems, small leaves and tiny yellow flowers that produce translucent white berries. The fruit is dispersed by birds. The plant is poisonous but is nonetheless used in traditional African medicine, the plant being boiled to make a tea that is used to soothe asthma.

References

Viscum capense Wikipedia