Cape Mistletoe (Viscum capense)
Description
“Pet poisonous” – Toxic parts: berries Viscum capense (common name, Cape mistletoe) is a species of Mistletoe that is indigenous to South Africa, especially the area from Cape Town, northwards along the coast up to Namibia, and eastwards as far as the Eastern Cape province. This parasitic plant has jointed stems, small leaves and tiny yellow flowers that produce translucent white berries. The fruit is dispersed by birds. The plant is poisonous but is nonetheless used in traditional African medicine, the plant being boiled to make a tea that is used to soothe asthma.[
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Santalales
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Family: Santalaceae
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Genus: Viscum
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