Muellerina celastroides

Muellerina celastroides, common names Banksia mistletoe and coast mistletoe,[3] is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae.

[4] The species is endemic to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

[4][5] Muellerina celastroides is an erect or spreading plant which is smooth except for the inflorescence axis which is covered with minute, brown, densely matted woolly hairs.

[6][7] The leaves are oblong to elliptic and 2.5–7 cm long and 15–25 mm wide, with a rounded apex and an attenuate base.

[6][7] The inflorescence is a raceme of 1–3 pairs of triads, with the stems of lateral flowers being 3–6 mm long.

[7] The fruit is pear-shaped, 7–11 mm long, and green grading to light red.

[6][7] The most frequently recorded hosts on which M. celastroides grows are Allocasuarina, Banksia, and Eucalyptus species, but it frequently is found on exotics and on other mistletoes.

[3] An inventory of host plants for Muellerina celastroides is given by Downey.

[8][9] Muellerina celastroides hosts the butterflies: Delias nigrina, Delias argenthona, Hypochrysops digglesii, Ogyris abrota, Ogyris zosine and Candelides margarita.