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Plant-Bird Relationship: 7. Loranthaceae

on 17th October 2012

The earlier series: 1. Need for a Catalogue LINK; 2. Moraceae LINK; 3. Euphorbiaceae LINK; 4. Poaceae LINK; 5. Fabaceae LINK and 6. Palmae LINK.

Members of the plant family Loranthaceae are what is commonly termed as tropical mistletoe. They are semi-parasites, usually attached to the branches of host plants. Leaves are simple and in opposites. Flowers are unisexual or bisexual and the fruits are berry-like, one-seeded and often covered with a stick layer of gum-like substance.

In the following list, the different species of birds that visit the plant are listed below each plant species. Details are as follows:
1. Common name of bird.
2. Whether for food, to forage for insects, to roost, to collect nesting material or to nest.
3. Author of the post.
4. Date of posting
5. Habitat if in Singapore (BTNR = Bukit Timah Nature Reserve), otherwise country.
6. Link to the actual post on the website.


[Dendrophthoe penatndra l-r: flowers, fruits and seedling growing on a host branch]

Loranthaceae
1. Dendrophthoe pentandra (Malayan mistletoe)
Flowerpeckers
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker; fruit_AngieNg_270106_urban – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: nectar_JasonCho_120509_rural – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: nectar_YCWee_221007_urban-garden – LINK
Parakeets
Long-tailed Parakeet: fruit_YCWee_100311_urban-garden – LINK
Long-tailed Parakeet: fruit_YCWee_301010_urban-garden – LINK
Sunbirds
Brown-throated Sunbird: nectar_TeoSiyang_230712_park – LINK
Crimson Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_040606_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: fruit-AngieNg_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: nectar_YCWee_221007_urban-garden – LINK

2. Macrosolen cochinchinensis (common Chinese mistletoe)
Flowerpeckers
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: (fruit_AngieNg_050206-urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_YCWee_260206_urban-garden – LINK
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: seed-dispersal_ChanYokeMeng_101007_urban – LINK
Hanging-parrots
Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot: nectar_YCWee_170907_urban-garden – LINK
Leafbirds
Blue-winged Leafbird: nectar_CalvinChang_130609_Johor-Malaysia – LINK
Sunbirds
Brown-throated Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_260206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbird: fruit_YCWee_050206_urban-garden – LINK
Olive-backed Sunbirds: fruit_AngieNg_050206-urban-garden – LINK

3. Scurrula ferruginea
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_AmarSingh_071211_Ipoh-Malaysia – LINK

4. Viscum ovalifolium
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker: fruit_FrancisLim_101211_rural – LINK

YC Wee
Singapore
October 2012

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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