PLEASE ID THE PLANT LIKE STRUCTURE: THIS IS PLANT LIKE STRUCTURE ON CALYX OF MEUSA FERREA.
am not much sure about this.. but, I guess, probably a seedling of some Loranthaceae member.. ?? inviting expert comments…! I agree with …. A Loranthaceae member. The seeds are very sticky and attaching to something, then germinate. This is a seedling of a Loranthaceae member. All seeds belongs to that family will start it life like this. The seeds are usually sticky and always adhere to the beak of its predator birds and the bird will try to leave it on some tree branches. It will start germinating there itself and to become a new parasitic plant. Symbiotic relationships: Interesting to see photographs depicting symbiotic relationships between plant and birds! Sunbirds and flowers are ideally suited to each other as the former with their longer bills can gain access to the nectar that other avian species cannot and in that process get coated with pollen. This kind of symbiosis is called mutualism where both parties benefit from each other’s actions.
On the other hand Mistletoe’s and ephyphites are the gainers whilst their hosts – trees – are the losers. This relationship is parasitic. The symbiosis between the mistletoe and its host tree could also be commensal as I checked up on wikipedia which states, “Commensalism describes a relationship between two living organisms where one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or helped…”.
The classic example in the Indian context is the symbiotic relationship between the Chital (Spotted Deer) and Langur monkey in the forest where the langur feeds sloppily, dropping fruits/seeds on the forest floor for the Chital to feed on whilst at the same time a member of its tribe keeps a lookout for predators from a high vantage point. The Chital also are able to warn the langurs feeding on the lower branches and on the ground of danger.
Have written about this before and it is available at this link
Flower-pecker and Loranthaceae Association 29122011 SI: … with a special request. It is known that Flower-peckers Dicaeum sp. pollinate flowers of Loranthaceae. However I have never seen them ‘pecking’ at flowers as such. It is said that red tips of corolla lobes of unopened flowers appear to them as berries which lures them to ‘peck’ at the tip and which causes flowers to ‘explode’ thus smearing the pollen on their forehead. I am also unaware of any Loranthaceae flowers with a red tip mimicking as a berry. I would welcome members to post photographs or observations in this respect.
epiphyte for id mm2 26052011: i assume this is an epiphyte Obviously a species of Loranthus [Loranthaceae]. They are partial parasites. Loranthus is increasing on Trees ?:
In my observation many Loranthus species are increasing drastically on trees in deciduous forests of S.Karnataka and on avenue trees in Bangalore, from the past 3 years !
Have any of you observed the same ? in other cities, towns, forests…..in other parts of our country ?
Out here observation is……….in the wild trees most affected are Phyllanthus emblica etc…… and in Bangalore they seem to thrive well on Peltophorum pterocarpum, Bauhinia purpurea,Drypetes roxburghii, lots and lots of others and…..even Grevillea robusta etc.
As Giby ji pointed out it could be openness of canopies…one of the factors…….and maybe……
Global warming ?
Erratic rainfall ?
Increase in bird population ?
or so many others we dont understand………
Fanua and Flora make up our fragile ecosystems and we need a deeper understanding i think……..to our limited capacity,, as far as the human brain can go.
Something to think of………just like how Lantana camara, Eupatorium, Parthenium invaded and now its got naturalised.
Such phenomena…i think we cannot do anything about it, much practically…..to ‘control’ (unnaturally)….. but can we at least understand the underlying processes ?
Pl provide inputs…..
Other aspect of Dendropthoe
Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Dendrophthoe falcata Ettingsh infesting Mahua (Madhuca indica) trees in Indian state Chhattisgarh. http://www.pankajoudhia.com/newwork5.html Related Youtube Links http://www.youtube.com/results?search=Search&resnum=0&oi=spell&search_query=dendrophthoe+oudhia&spell=1&sa=X
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