tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post8784835638528141909..comments2023-12-24T07:02:43.274+08:00Comments on Catalogue of Organisms: Australasian MistletoesChristopher Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11075565866351612441noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-26273820111372496272019-10-02T09:15:51.985+08:002019-10-02T09:15:51.985+08:00I was wondering the same thing. I suppose it might...I was wondering the same thing. I suppose it might possibly help hide the mistletoe from browsers that might otherwise preferentially target the more nutrient-dense mistletoe foliage. This might also correlate with mimicry being more common in open-environment species where the mistletoes are more visible from a distance. I would think that this would only work from a distance, though, as up close other selective cues such as odour would probably be more significant (at least for mammalian browsers).<br /><br />I also contemplated whether the resemblance between mistletoe and host foliage might not be mimicry per se but parallel adaptation to living in the same environmental conditions, but surely the host trees share their environment with other tree species that do not have the exact same type of foliage.Christopher Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11075565866351612441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-69847436784762827522019-09-30T23:18:22.376+08:002019-09-30T23:18:22.376+08:00"Those species which restrict themselves to a..."Those species which restrict themselves to a single host may have leaves closely resembling that host"<br /><br />Is the reason for such mimicry known? It's presumably not to fool the host itself ...Andreas Johanssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08802392912541974977noreply@blogger.com