The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Alepis flavida

Etymology

flavida: pale yellow

Common Name(s)

Yellow mistletoe, pirita, piriraki

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Declining

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - At Risk - Declining
2004 - Gradual Decline

Qualifiers

2012 - CD
2009 - CD

Authority

Alepis flavida (Hook.f.) Tiegh.

Family

Loranthaceae

Brief Description

Semi-parasitic shrub mainly on outer branches of beech trees. Obvious when in flower or from flowers fallen to ground. Leaves oval, dull green and with a reddish margin. Flowers tubular, orange-yellow, in small clusters.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

ALEFLA

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Elytranthe flavida (Hook.f.) Engl. Loranthus flavidus Hook. F.

Distribution

North Island and South Island, New Zealand

Habitat

Its host is most commonly mountain or black beech but it has been recorded on 13 species, all indigenous to New Zealand. In North Island the species is dispersed by bellbird (Anthonis melanura). It has never been common in the North Island.

Features

This species is a shrub that can grow up to 2 m across. It has leathery leaves that are 2-6cm long, narrow and dull green with deciduous tip. The leaves sit in pairs on opposite sides of the stem and are thick and fleshy with a matt surface. The margins of the leaves are red and are rough to touch. Veins are visible on the lower surface of the leaves. Its flowers are small with orange-yellow to yellow tepals that open right back. The fruit are small, shiny, translucent oval berries (approximately 4-5mm long) and ripen to yellow or gold although fruit have been recorded as yellow, green and orange on herbarium sheets at the Landcare herbarium in Lincoln (CHR).

Similar Taxa

Peraxilla colensoi, P. tetrapetala. Alepis flavida has disc-like attachment structures and oblong leaves with red margins. The plant grows in the outer branches of its host. Peraxilla colensoi and P. tetrapetala are more leafy, have red flowers, round or diamond-shaped leaves with no red margin. They have different attachment structures and usually grow on the trunks of the host tree.

Flowering

December to February.

Flower Colours

Orange,Yellow

Fruiting

Fruiting from January.

Threats

Animal pests (including possums), fire, collectors, destruction of habitat and hosts, vegetation succession, fungal diseases.

Chromosome No.

2n = 24

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Fleshy berries dispersed by fruigivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 13 May 2014