Loranthaceae
Guides
Bakerella
Bakerella is a genus of sixteen mistletoe species native to Madagascar and the Mascarenes. These hemiparasitic plants grow on host trees and produce showy flowers. They serve as an important food source for lemurs in parts of Madagascar. Research on Bakerella gonoclada demonstrates that lemur gut passage significantly enhances seed germination success, speed, and seedling survival compared to hand-removed seeds, indicating a mutualistic relationship between the plant and its lemur dispersers.
Pilophorini
Pilophorini is a tribe of plant bugs (Miridae: Phylinae) comprising approximately 15 genera distributed across tropical and temperate regions. The group exhibits pronounced ant-mimicry (myrmecomorphy) in many species, particularly within the type genus Pilophorus. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a tropical Gondwanan origin with subsequent radiation into the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Members of this tribe show diverse feeding strategies, including herbivory on mistletoes (Loranthaceae, Santalales) and predatory behavior.