Leechbrush (Nestronia umbellula)
Description
Semi-parasitic shrub forming dense colonies 2 - 4 feet (60 - 130 cm) tall. Stems and branches smooth and dark purplish-brown; winter buds dark brown, pointing outward, often at right angles to the stem. Leaves 1 - 2- inches (3 - 6 cm) long, opposite, deciduous, oval to lance-shaped, upper surface dark yellow-green, lower surface pale green; leaves are deciduous and fall early. Female-flowered plants and male-flowered plants are in separate colonies; flowers are pale yellow-green, with 4 - 5 petal-like sepals and no petals; female flowers solitary, male flowers in clusters of 3 - 11 flowers. Fruit - inch (1.4 cm) wide, oval, fleshy, greenish-yellow.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Santalales
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Family: Santalaceae
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Genus: Nestronia
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