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Nuytsia floribunda

Other Name Western Australian Christmas Tree Location Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne,1000 Ballarto Road,, CRANBOURNE VIC 3977 - Property No T12287 File Number T12287 Level State

[1/4] T12287 Nuytsia floribunda, [2/4] T12287 Nuytsia floribunda, [3/4] T12287 Nuytsia floribunda, [4/4] T12287 Nuytsia floribunda,

Statement of Significance

Contribution to landscape
Extremely rare in cultivation
Outstanding example of species

Nuytsia floribunda is a root parasitizing mistletoe endemic to Western Australia. There are few root parasitizing plant species across the globe and they are considered the oldest of the ancient family Loranthaceae. Research of their mode of root attachment indicates that it is unique. The species is extremely rare in cultivation due to the difficulty in getting its roots to establish on the roots of host plants.
The tree in the Australian Garden has matured sufficiently to display a good canopy of colourful flowers each year. The plant is one of only a few known to be in cultivation outside Western Australia and it is the most southerly occurring specimen in the world.