Misunderstood mistletoes: The status of the genus Loranthus (Loranthaceae) from the Central Himalayas of Nepal

Confusion currently surrounds the application of names to some mistletoes found in Nepal. As exemplified by the eFlora of India, Loranthus lambertianus and L. odoratus are both treated as species of Helixanthera. The type of the former species was first collected in Nepal in 1826 but additional collections since then are lacking. A new collection of L. lambertianus from the Tamakoshi Valley of Dolakha District, Central Himalayas of Nepal was obtained and it matches the type morphologically. A new description from this material is provided. In addition, molecular phylogenetic data place it with eight other species of Loranthus in a well-supported clade separate from Helixanthera. We acknowledge that the taxonomic history of these mistletoes is complex, however, this part of the story is now clear and should be used to update world plant taxonomic databases, checklists, and floras.