Western Australian Christmas Tree

I came to Western Australia in the hope of seeing one of these in flower and although a bit early I was thrilled to find one. This tree is very unusual, has no relatives and is classed in a genus by itself in the mistletoe family. Unlike other mistletoes that grow off branches of their host trees, this tree grows in the ground.It is partially parasitic which means that it’s roots make rings round the roots of nearby plants and then extracts water and nutrients from them ( up to 110 metres away). This is the only tree in the mistletoe family whose seeds are wind dispersed. It is the largest mistletoe in the world and is believed to belong to the oldest lineage. The roots have been known to cut through underground electric cables, small water pipes and telephone lines! A truly fascinating species!