A Revision of Indian Viscaceae

Abstract

The family Viscaceae in India with 19 species under Arceuthobium M. Bieb., Ginalloa Korth., Korthalsella Van Tiegh. and Viscum L. is taxonomically revised based on herbarium studies, explorations and collections from different parts of India. Viscum is represented by 15 species. Among them, 4 species, including the recently described V. malurianum Sanjai & N.P. Balakr. and V. subracemosum Sanjai & N.P. Balakr., are endemic to India. Viscum articulatum var. thelocarpum and var. liquidambaricolum are merged with V. articulatum. Viscum album var. meridianum is sunk under V. album proper. V. orbiculatum and V. verruculosum are treated as synonyms of V. heyneanum. Viscum acaciae Danser is a new record for India. Viscum mysorense is considered as a link between the leafy and leafless species. Korthalsella is represented by a single species, K. japonica (Thunb) Engler, as Korthalsella japonica var. corallaides is merged with K. japonica proper. Ginalloa andamanica Kurz is endemic to South Andamans. Systematic position, factors affecting distribution, morphology, hyper parasitism and cryptic mimicry of/in Viscaceae are discussed