An account of the Santalaceae of Thailand

Abstract

The Santalaceae is a relatively small family of hemiparasites with a sub-cosmopolitan distribution whose species are most commonly found in semi-arid areas. In Thailand, the family represented by 13 species in seven genera. Ecologically, species are generally associated with disturbed conditions and secondary vegetation. The majority of the species in Thailand belong to the tribe Amphorogyneae. This tribe contains a unique group of aerial parasites which have some morphological and ecological similarities to the Viscaceae. Many of the species in this group display a degree of host specificity and generally inhabit montane regions, where they are usually parasitic on species associated with higher elevations such as Quercus, Lithocarpus (Fagaceae) and Vaccinium (Ericaceae). All of the species in Thailand are fully described herein with accompanying identification keys.