A new book on Australian mistletoes should go a long way to changing the public’s perception of these much-maligned parasitic plants, says Charles Sturt University (CSU) ecologist and author, Associate Professor David Watson.

 

“With the beautiful illustrations in Mistletoes of Southern Australia, people will see the true beauty of these plants, demonstrating the positive side of these plants better than anything I have written,” said Professor Watson, who is recognised as a leading international expert on mistletoe.

 

“You can get so much out of it just by looking at the pictures and reading the odd caption.”

 

Professor Watson, who has been interested in these enigmatic plants since 1994, has written the book in a practical, easy-to-read style, teaming up with botanical illustrator Robyn Hulley.

 

“So much of my work has been to impress on people that mistletoes are quite beautiful native plants. What better way to do that than with carefully executed artwork?” said Professor Watson, a researcher with CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society.

 

One of the main elements of Professor Watson’s research has focused on the effects of parasitic plants on biodiversity, finding surprisingly positive effects on a wide range of other plants and animals.  “Mistletoes are like a dripping tap,” he said. “They leak large quantities of nutrient-rich leaf litter. It’s like having a mulch-making machine in the trees - everything benefits from it.”

 

Mistletoes of Southern Australia is a beautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide to half of Australia’s 91 known mistletoe species. It contains over 100 color photographs, many taken by Professor Watson, a keen photographer, and 51 of Ms Hulley’s watercolour illustrations.

 

The book represents the first thorough treatment of mistletoes in Australia and is the first ‘field guide’ to mistletoes world-wide. It provides an up-to-date summary of the biology, ecology and management of mistletoes in Australia. The 188 page paperback book include a section that will help people without specialist botanical knowledge to identify different mistletoe species and a chapter on the cultural significance of mistletoe, both the European beliefs imported to Australia and Indigenous beliefs, stories and uses.

 

“Most of the plants have never been illustrated before,” Ms Hulley said. “When I started I thought I would get bored - but I was stunned. Each species is just so different from the next, so I wasn’t bored for a moment!”

 

The book has a recommended retail price of A$49.95 from bookstores, order online from CSIRO Publishing or call 1300 788 000. It will be launched on Friday 25 February at 5pm, at Domain House next to the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. The launch includes an exhibition of 25 of Ms Hulley’s original illustrations as well as works by Ms Rebecca Mayo, a mixed media artist and print-maker whose work features mistletoes. To attend the launch contact Ms Simone Engdahl on (02) 6051 9790 or send an email.