Kew scientists found new mistletoe in Mozambique
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A new species of mistletoe has been discovered near the summit of Mount Mabu in Mozambique, confirmed a team of scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The new tropical version of the traditional festive plant was found growing on trees 1,650ft above sea level. The discovery was initially made back in 2008 but was only confirmed recently after close study.
The new species, officially named Helixanthera schizocalyx, was discovered by Colin Congdon, a butterfly specialist among the team. Congdon spotted the mistletoe among some dense foliage and noticed how it was different from all other plants he’d seen on the mountains of neighbouring countries Malawi and Tanzania.
Scientists discovered that the wild mistletoe is pollinated by birds and butterflies, can grow up to 50cm, and that it attaches itself directly onto the branches of small trees.
Helixanthera schizocalyx was top of the list of Kew’s botanical discoveries of 2010. Other discoveries to make the list included a very rare tree that was found in Cameroon, so rare that there are only four in existence, and a Vietnamese orchid which is already thought to be endangered.
By James Massoud
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