Mistletoes of Western Australia

Reviews

"This is a comprehensive guide to the identification, ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation of the colourful, diverse and ecologically important indigenous mistletoes of Western Australia."
Gardening Australia, April 2023

"It not only covers the biology and ecological role of mistletoes, and their biogeography, but also provides a key to all the species of mistletoes of WA [...] I found the information on the ecological role of mistletoes very enlightening, and the clear photographs of leaves, flowers and fruit bring out the beauty of these plants that we tend to overlook."
Mike Gregson, Western Australian Naturalists Club, 26 January 2023

"I consider this book to be of tremendous value, even to the non-mistletoe enthusiast."
Peter Rogers, Growing Australian No 264, June 2023

"Don’t let geography deter you, Western Australia (WA) has many mistletoe species that extend into the Northern Territory and tropical Queensland. [...]
Overall, Mistletoes of Western Australia describes: 42 species from Western Australia, of which 28 species are also found in the Northern Territory, 16 species also occur in South Australia, 15 species in NSW, and 6 species in Victoria. Thus, this book is presenting new information on mistletoe species that grow Australia wide."
Peter Vaughan, Metamorphosis Australia, Issue 106, December 2023

Features

• Provides keys to all seven genera and 42 species of Western Australian mistletoes.
• Includes descriptions and images of all Western Australian taxa, with information on hosts and distribution maps for all taxa.
• Covers many species that also occur in the Northern Territory.
• Features chapters on mistletoe ecology and biology.

Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface

1: Introduction
2: Parasitic plants: an overview
3: Reproduction
4: Do mistletoes have roots?
5: Host variety
6: Do mistletoes mimic their hosts?
7: Fire and other threats
8: Biogeography of Western Australia’s mistletoes
9: The relevance of mistletoes
10: Keys to mistletoe families, genera and species in Western Australia
11: Species accounts
Loranthaceae
Santalaceae

Checklist and broad distribution records of Western Australian mistletoes
Glossary
References and further reading
Index

Authors

Antony (Tony) Start is a Research Associate at the Western Australian Herbarium, specialising in mistletoes, and a former Western Australia National Parks manager. His interest in mistletoes started as a youth in Kenya and was rekindled when he realised their potential as indicators of areas with mild fire histories.

Kevin Thiele is a botanical taxonomist who has worked with many groups of Australian plants including Banksia, Viola, Hibbertia and the family Rhamnaceae. He was the head of the Western Australian Herbarium for more than a decade.