Psittacanthus robustus is a species of Neotropical mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae, which is found in Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela.[4]
Initially, branches are erect, but adult branches are pendulous.[3] Branch cross-sections are square.[3] Leaves are petiolate and obtuse at both base and apex.[3] Inflorescences are both terminal and axillary, consisting of umbels of yellow to orange triads (flowers in groups of three).[3] The fruit is light green colored when immature but when ripe the colour changes to black, and looks somewhat like an olive.[5] Its seeds have 3 cotyledons and sticky substance inside.[5]
P. robustus was first described by Martius in 1829 as Loranthus robustus,[6][7] and in 1830, he assigned it to a new genus Psittacanthus.[1][8]
It has been found in the Northern Amazon, in Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela,[4] in Amazonian rainforests, Caatinga, the Central Brazilian Savanna, and the Atlantic Rainforest.[3]
Three species of birds have been found eating and excreting the seeds. The most common isTersina viridis viridis (swallow tanager), but also the cinnamon-tanager, Schystoclamys ruficapillus ruficapillus, and the sayaca-tanager, Thraupis sayaca sayaca.[5]
It has been found on thirteen hosts, from the genera Vochysiaceae and Melastomaceae.[5]
Psittacanthus robustus is a species of Neotropical mistletoe in the family Loranthaceae, which is found in Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela.
