Socratina

Socratina is genus of three showy mistletoe species in Madagascar. The genus was described by the Belgian botanist Simone Balle in Flora de Madagascar,^[1] 1964, and was revised by Martin Callmander and co-workers^[2] in 2014. It contains three species.

• Socratina bemarivensis (Lecomte) S.Balle
• Socratina kerauderiana S.Balle
• Socratina phillipsoniana Callm. & Luino

'Socratina' is a genus of mistletoes endemic to Madagascar, comprising three recognized species: 'Socratina bemarivensis, Socratina kerauderiana, and Socratina phillipsoniana.' The genus was first described by Belgian botanist Simone Balle in 1964, and later revised by Martin Callmander and colleagues in 2014. These species are notable for their parasitic lifestyle, attaching to host trees and shrubs in Madagascar's unique ecosystems. The genus Socratina is characterized by features such as articulated shoots at the nodes, opposite leaves that can be normal or reduced to scales, and unisexual flowers, indicating that the plants are either monoecious or dioecious. The floral structure includes an undifferentiated perianth with 2 to 4 tepals, and the pollen is subcircular in polar view. These morphological traits place Socratina within the family Loranthaceae, which encompasses a diverse group of parasitic plants commonly known as mistletoes. The genus's unique adaptations reflect its specialized ecological niche in Madagascar's flora.^[3][4][5]