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Two New Additions of Showy Mistletoe Species to the Flora of Barak
Valley, with Notes on Host Range in Assam, India
Debasish Deb, and Mukul Kumar Baruah
Abstract:
A floristic exploration of the family Loranthaceae in the Cachar district resulted in adding two showy mistletoe species,
Macrosolen cochinchinensis (Lour.) Tiegh. and Helixanthera ligustrina (Wall.) Danser. to the Flora of Barak Valley, Assam. A detailed description with key identifying features and photographs is provided to identify the species easily. In addition, periodic field surveys were carried out to assess the host range of both the mistletoes within the Cachar district of Barak Valley. M. cochinchinensis and H. ligustrina parasitized 16 and 3 host species belonging to diverse angiospermic families. Among the host species, Terminalia arjuna, Ceiba pentandra, Camphora offi cinarum, Litsea glutinosa, Litsea monopetala, Elaeocarpus serratus, Ficus religiosa, Flacourtia jangomas, Schima wallichii, Ziziphus mauritiana, and Choerospondias axillaris are recorded as new hosts of M. cochinchinensis; and Aphanamixis polystachya as a new host of H. ligustrina for the state of Assam. This study has established a foundation for investigating the host range of both mistletoes within the study area. M. cochinchinensis and H. ligustrina on different
horticulturally important host plants indicate increased adaptability of the hemiparasites in the Cachar district of Barak Valley.
Keywords: Loranthaceae, Cachar district, Helixanthera, Macrosolen, Hemiparasite, Infestation, Horticultural plants
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