A new androecial type in African Viscum

An androecial type is reported from Viscum aff. hildebrandtii (Kenya) which is radically different from other known types in the genus and even in the Order Santalales as currently understood. While in other known species anthers or anther cushions are individually fused with perianth members, those of V. aff. hildebrandtii are fused into a unified or bilobed, weakly vasculated central synandrium which represents the continuation of the floral axis and lacks any direct contact with perianth members. Somewhat intermediate situations seem to exist in several other African species.