pirita

Ileostylus micranthus | pirita, green mistletoe

One of the few indigenous mistletoes found in urban settings, is a woody, multi-branched epiphytic shrub up to 1m tall, characterised by its distinctive green to yellow-green leathery leaves. This New Zealand native prefers coastal and lowland areas, rarely extending into upper montane forests, and thrives in shrubland and secondary regrowth. It has been observed growing on nearly 300 indigenous and exotic host plants, including apple trees. Once established, it can repeatedly sucker back onto the same host.