Viscum rotundifolium

Viscum rotundifolium, the redberry mistletoe or in Afrikaans litjiestee (little joints tea), is a perennial hemiparasite that grows much-branched, brittle stems in a clump of about 75 cm in diameter. The variable plant is evergreen, using a wide variety of host plants, including other mistletoes. Branching happens at almost every node in the photo.

The variable, fleshy leaves of V. rotundifolium are ovate to elliptic or almost round as the specific name says. In the photo the leaves are ovate or oblong with pointed or rounded tips and finely hairy. They are often grey-green, but may be green in various shades. Two opposite leaves grow at each node. The leaves may be up to 1 cm in diameter.

The flowers are small and creamy green, inconspicuous. The orange to nearly red berries are spherical, about 5 mm in diameter.

The species occurs in every province of South Africa, but most commonly in the Western and Eastern Cape. It also grows widespread in southern Africa from near sea level to elevations of almost 2000 m.

The habitat is often semi-arid, lowland shrub vegetation, but variable from being so widespread. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Gledhill, 1981; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).