About Tapinanthus rubromarginatus (Engl.) Danser
Tapinanthus rubromarginatus (Engl.) Danser is a deciduous, semi-parasitic aerial shrub that attaches to host plants via haustoria. Its leaves grow in clustered groups, and have narrow, dark red edges. Pinkish red flowers bloom in spring, and the berries that develop after flowering are the same pinkish red color. This species is native to northern South Africa, found in regions north of the Vaal and Pongola Rivers, as well as in the uplands of western and northern Eswatini. Its known host plants are Protea afra, Protea roupelliae, and Faurea saligna. For reproduction, sunbirds are drawn to the nectar of its flowers and carry out most of its pollination. When a sunbird probes the plant's perianth tube for nectar, the flower's pistil and anthers come into contact with the sunbird's crown feathers, transferring pollen. Multiple bird species eat the sweet fruit produced by the shrub. The seeds of this fruit are covered in a thick, sticky glue; this adhesive sticks the seed to the bird's beak, and the bird then wipes the seed off onto another tree branch. The seed is deposited on this new branch and will eventually germinate there.
