Native Species Of ‘Mistletoe' Discovered In Mt. Hamiguitan

DAVAO CITY – Researchers from the National Museum of the Philippines and Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon discovered a new species of flowering plant “Amylotheca cleofei Tandang, Galindon, & A.S.Rob,” which 5 belongs to the family Loranthaceae, collectively called as “mistletoe,” at the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS) in Davao Oriental.

- Antonio L. Colina IV

In a statement released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Davao, the new floral species was the first genus recorded in the Philippines and the fifth species of “mistletoe” in the world.

The plant endemic to Mt. Hamiguitan was first documented in 2019.

It said “mistletoe,” known for their “exceptional lifestyle as a hemiparasite,” propagate through birds that spread their seeds to other host plants.

“When a bird eats the mistletoe fruit and poops (excretes), the sticky seed will attach to the branch and a specialized root-like structure called haustorium will emerge and penetrate to the host tree or shrub to extract water and nutrients for its growth and nourishment,” it added.