Viscum songimveloensis, a new species of mistletoe from South Africa

A species of Viscum (Santalaceae) was collected in eastern Mpumalanga that did not match V. combreticola, V. anceps or V. shirense. We consider the differences to be sufficient to recognise a new species, Viscum songimveloensis D. Oosthuizen & K. Balkwill. This species has so far only been found on one host, Trichocladus grandiflorus, and in a very restricted geographical range. Consequently a provisional threat status of Vulnerable D2 is proposed. This new discovery brings the total number of Viscum species in the Flora of southern Africa region to twenty and in Mpumalanga to ten. An updated key to the species of Viscum in Mpumalanga is provided.