Tupeia

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Tupeia antarctica

Tupeia is a tiny, semi-parasitic mistletoe found in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It is the only species in its genus.

Key facts
- Names: Tupeia antarctica; common names include tāpia, kohuorangi, pirinoa, piritia, and white mistletoe.
- Plant type: dioecious (separate male and female plants). Grows up to about 1 meter across. Bark is white; twigs are finely hairy. Leaves are fleshy, bright green, and 10–70 mm long. Flowers are tiny; fruit is white to pinkish.
- Habitat and hosts: lives in forests or scrub, and attaches to many plants. Known hosts include tarata (Pittosporum eugenioides), karo (Pittosporum crassifolium), Coprosma species, putaputaweta (Carpodetus serratus), fivefinger (Pseudopanax arboreus), white maire (Nestegis lanceolata), and broom. It parasitizes about 48 hosts (11 exotic), with Fabaceae and Rubiaceae being common families.
- Etymology: named after the Tahitian navigator Tupaia. The species name antarctica comes from Latin and Greek roots meaning “opposite the north” (Antarctic).
- Taxonomy history: first described in 1786 as Viscum antarcticum by G. Forster; placed in the genus Tupeia in 1828 by Chamissio and Schlechtendal.
- Conservation: listed as At Risk – Declining in New Zealand. The number of plants is decreasing and could drop from over 100,000 individuals to a much smaller proportion. A 2002 study noted possums browsing on the plant reduces recruitment of new individuals.