Phoradendron strongyloclados showing leathery leaves and an inflorescence resulting from one apical meristem.Phoradendron macrophylla in Arizona sycamoreMultiple Phoradendron individuals parasitizing an oak tree. While lower branches show new leaf growth, the mistletoe appears to be negatively affecting the tree's budding in the upper branches.Phoradendron californicum (Desert Mistletoe), Granite Mountains, Mojave Desert, California
Phoradendron is a genus of mistletoe, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Americas. The center of diversity is the Amazon rainforest.[3]Phoradendron is the largest genus of mistletoe in the Americas, and possibly the largest genus of mistletoes in the world.[4] Traditionally, the genus has been placed in the family Viscaceae, but recent genetic research acknowledged by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group shows this family to be correctly placed within a larger circumscription of the sandalwood family, Santalaceae.
They are woody hemi-parasitic shrubs with branches 10–80 cm (3.9–31.5 in) long, which grow on other trees. The foliage is dichotomously branching, with opposite pairs of leaves; these are fairly large, 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) long, green and photosynthetic in some species (e.g. P. leucarpum), but minimal in some others (e.g. P. californicum). Although they are able to photosynthesize the plant relies on its host for some nutrients. The plant draws its mineral and water needs, and some of its energy needs, from the host tree using a haustorium which grows into the stems of the host.[5]
The flowers are inconspicuous and incomplete, no petals and 3-4 greenish-yellow sepals,[6] 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) diameter. The fruit is a berry, white, yellow, orange, or red when mature, containing one to several seeds embedded in very sticky juice, called viscin.[4] The flowers are unisexual, and depending on the species, the plant will be monoecious or dioecious (both male and female flowers on a single plant or male and female plants with only one sex of flowers).[4] The seeds are dispersed when birds eat the fruit and remove the sticky seeds from their bills by wiping them on tree branches where they can germinate.
The foliage and berries of some species are toxic. Leafy mistletoes seldom kill but they cause stress reducing crop productions in fruits and nut trees.[7]
Phoradendron plants can be distinguished from mistletoes in other genera in Viscaceae by their inflorescences, which lack leaves and come from a single branching point or apical meristem.[4] However, it can be difficult to identify species within Phoradendron, because leaf shape and color can vary greatly even within species.[6]
Phoradendron sp. on Spanish oak
^ ab"Genus: Phoradendron Nutt". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2010-08-25. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
^Cite error: The named reference nutt was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Coder, K. D. American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum var. serotinum) infection in trees. WSFNR08-25. Tree Health Series. University of Georgia. 2008.
Phoradendron is a genus of mistletoe, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Americas. The center of diversity is the Amazon rainforest....
Phoradendron leucarpum is a species of mistletoe in the Viscaceae family which is native to the United States and Mexico. Its common names include American...
Phoradendron californicum, the desert mistletoe or mesquite mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic plant native to southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Sonora...
Northern California in 1900. The eastern mistletoe native to North America, Phoradendron leucarpum, belongs to a distinct genus of the family Santalaceae. European...
Phoradendron macrophyllum is a species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common names Colorado Desert mistletoe, bigleaf mistletoe...
Phoradendron pomasquianum is a species of plant in the Santalaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist...
Phoradendron densum Trel. is a species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common name dense mistletoe. It is native to the western...
Phoradendron juniperinum is a species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common name juniper mistletoe. It is native to the southwestern...
Phoradendron tomentosum, the leafy mistletoe, hairy mistletoe or Christmas mistletoe, is a plant parasite. It is characterized by its larger leaves and...
Phoradendron capitellatum, the downy mistletoe or hairy mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic plant native to Arizona, New Mexico, Chihuahua and Sonora. It grows...
Phoradendron libocedri is a species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common name incense-cedar mistletoe. It is native to western...
Phoradendron madisonii is a species of plant in the Santalaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist...
Phoradendron villosum is a species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common names Pacific mistletoe and oak mistletoe. It is native...
Phoradendron nickrentianum is a hemiparasitic plant in the Santalaceae (previously Viscaceae) family, native to Peru. There are no synonyms. P. nickrentianum...
Phoradendron aequatoris is a species of plant in the Santalaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist...
Phoradendron bolleanum, commonly called Bollean mistletoe, is a species of plant in the sandalwood family that is native to the desert southwest, California...
Phoradendron wiensii is a species of plant in the Santalaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane...
Phoradendron coryae, Cory's mistletoe or oak mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is reported...
Phoradendron canzacotoi is a species of plant in the Santalaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist...
its cultural roles are usually fulfilled by the similar native species Phoradendron leucarpum.) It is a hemi-parasitic evergreen shrub, which grows on the...
Phoradendron pauciflorum is a species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common name fir mistletoe. It is native to coniferous forests...
(2018). "Host Cues Mediate Growth and Establishment of Oak Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum, Viscaceae), an Aerial Parasitic Plant". Castanea. 83 (2):...
subspecies are recognized. Its caterpillar larvae feed on the mistletoe genus Phoradendron. The wingspan on the adult butterfly ranges from 1.25 to 1.5 inches....
medicinal applications. The molecule has also been extracted from mistletoe (Phoradendron reichenbachianum). Bevirimat, a derivative of the related triterpenoid...
cyanogenic glycoside, which breaks down into cyanide.[citation needed] Phoradendron spp. American mistletoe; see also the related genus Viscum Santalaceae...
include: Arceuthobium Dendrophthora Ginalloa Korthalsella Notothixos Phoradendron Viscum Wikimedia Commons has media related to Viscaceae. "Angiosperm...
trees are a frequent host for the parasitic plant American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum), but usually is not infected by large numbers of them and...
after a forest fire. The tree is also host to incense-cedar mistletoe (Phoradendron libocedri), a parasitic plant which can often be found hanging from its...
boiled beans mixed with mush, baked in corn husks & used for food. Phoradendron juniperinum (juniper mistletoe), infusion of whole plant used for stomachaches...
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