Author: | Christian
Friedrich Ecklon & Zeyher |
Family: |
Viscaceae
|
Habitat: |
Port
Elizabeth; South
Africa |
Soil: |
No, it
grows on: Euphorbia and Portulacaria |
Water:
|
No, sap
from the host |
Sun: |
Medium -
Maximum |
Thickness: |
2
centimetres |
Height: |
30
centimetres |
Flower:
|
Yellowish |
Propagate: |
Seeds |
Names:
|
- |
Synonyms: |
Viscum
euphorbiae, E.Mey. |
This parasitic plant was
described by Christian Friedrich Ecklon and Zeyher. It is found
small isolated areas around
Port Elizabeth in South Africa, growing on different plants like
Euphorbia and Portulacaria. It prefers some
to much sun, and can grow to a rather dense plant, 30 centimetres in
diameter. The small flowers are yellowish, the berries are
orange.
Ph.d. Bo I. Jørgensen and
horticulturist Jørgen S.Damgaard Pedersen of the Botanical
Garden,University of Copenhagen, have developed a method for mass
propagation of plant parasites most notably mistletoes. This
technology have been patented by the University in USA, South Africa
and some European countries, more will come. As the method was
developed using the South African mistletoe Viscum crassulae
as model it was decided to commercialise it in South Africa as a
black empowerment project. “Fair Plant Nursery Pty (Ltd)” was
founded in May 2004 and is a blackempowered export nursery located
in George, South Africa. One of Fair Plant Nursery’s objectives is
to be one of the first nurseries to be able to trade under the Fair
Trade Label worldwide. Fair Plant Nursery is ajoint venture between
New Plant Nursery, George, South Africa, the Danish nursery Danverde
a/s, Jørgen S. Damgaard Pedersen and Bo I. Jørgensen, both from the
Botanical Garden. The joint venture is in part based on the patented
production technology, but does also include development of other
ornamental plants
for export to the markets in Europe and USA. Ornamental horticulture
is a billion $ business and the perspectives for job-creation and
generation of export income seem very promising. The joint venture
has received funding in the form of a start-up grant from the Danish BtB programme in South Africa. |