Viscaceae

Family Description

Distribution Map

List of Genera

Life Cycle of Arceuthobium (dwarf mistletoe)

Dwarf Mistletoe Monograph (Hawksworth & Wiens 1996)

Controlling Mistletoe (Phoradendron)

Photographs

Arceuthobium

Arceuthobium Witches' Brooms

Our Dwarf Mistletoe Gurus! Frank Hawksworth (right) and Delbert Wiens (left), San Cristobal, Guatemala, February, 1975. Whole scene. Close-up.

1. Arceuthobium americanum
   • Photo Carpellate plant on Pinus contorta. Saguache Co., Colorado, USA. [DLN 1560]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Closer view of carpellate plant with mature fruits. Arrow indicates pistillate flowers. Buckhorn Mt., Larimer Co. CO [DLN 1508]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Carpellate plant (left) and immature staminate plant (right). Arrow indicates verticillate branching on the staminate plant. Pennock Pass, Larimer Co. CO [DLN 1550]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
     
   • Photo Seed just after dehiscence, sticking to a host (Pinus contorta) needle. Larimer Co., Colorado, USA. [DLN 1508]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
2. Arceuthobium azoricum
   • Photo Azore islands. Photo by Carlos Aedo Perez.
3. Arceuthobium bicarinatum
   
   • Photo.  Shoots emerging from Pinus occidentalis. Hispaniola. Photo by R. A. Howard (see Plant Image Collection, Smithsonian Inst.)
4. Arceuthobium blumeri
   
   • Staminate plant and close-up of shoots with flowers. Note variation in number of petals. Pistillate shoots emerging from host, Pinus strobiformis and closer view of shoots with fruits. Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mts., Pima Co. AZ. Photos by R. L. Mathiasen.
5. Arceuthobium campylopodum
   • Photo Carpellate plant on Pinus jeffreyi. Placerville, California, USA. [DLN 2222]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Staminate plant on Pinus jeffreyi. Placerville, California, USA. [DLN 2222]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Young staminate plant (left) and fruiting carpellate plant (right) on Pinus jeffreyi. Placerville, California, USA. [DLN 2222]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Staminate plant on Abies magnifica. (= A. abietinum f. sp. magnificae; DLN 1910), Madera Co., California, USA. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Staminate plant (left) and carpellate plant (right) on Pinus ponderosa. (= A. cyanocarpum; DLN 1570), Boulder Co., Colorado, USA. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Note the large, fusiform swelling of the branch of its host Pinus contorta ssp. contorta. (= A. tsugense; DLN 2664), Horne Lake, British Columbia, Canada. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Infection of three host trees: Abies lasiocarpa, Tsuga mertensiana and Pinus albicaulis. (= A. tsugense; DLN 2684), Lane Co., Oregon, USA. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
6. Arceuthobium divaricatum
   • Staminate plant in flower and pistillate plant with fruits. Pecos, NM. Photos by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Pinus monophylla branches with mistletoe, pistillate plant with fruits, color variations. North of Baldwin Lake, San Bernardino Co, CA. [DLN 1897]. Photos by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Staminate plant, closer view of staminate shoots with flowers, staminate shoot in hand, pistillate plant, pistillate shoot in hand. Mt. Withington, Socoro Co. NM. [DLN 1623]. Photos by D. L. Nickrent.
     
7. Arceuthobium douglasii
   • One view and another of fruiting shoots. Parasitic on Pseudotsuga menziesii. Mt. Herman, El Paso Co. CO [DLN 1556]. Photos by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Host branches (Pseudotsuga) with severe systemic infections of Douglas fir dwarf mistletoe. Mt. Withington, Socoro Co. NM [DLN 1627]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Maroon colored shoots with fruits. Bear Wallow, Santa Catalina Mts., Pima Co. AZ. [DLN 1941]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Purple colored shoots with fruits. Pinalenos Mts., AZ. [DLN 1949]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Pseudotsuga showing the different developmental stages of mistletoe corresponding to growth increments of host branches. Cerro Potosi, Nuevo Leon, Mexico [DLN 1984]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Host branch with staminate shoots and young pistillate shoots. Johnson Mesa, Santa Fe National Forest, Sangre de Cristo Mountains NM. Photos by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Staminate shoots infecting host stem and close-up of staminate shoot in flower. Photos by D. Wiens.
   • Plant with fungal hyperparasite Caliciopsis (Wallrothiella) arceuthobii. In this close-up, note the black stroma that contain perithecia on the stigmatic surface of these pistillate flowers. Sandia Mts., Sandoval Co., NM. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
8. Arceuthobium durangense
   • Photo Seedling with holdfast parasitizing a host pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum) under greenhouse conditions. Durango, Mexico. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Carpellate plant showing the explosive dehiscence of the seed from the shoot. Durango, Mexico. Photo by Ken Robertson.
   • Photo Plants being disarticulated by leaf-cutter ants (Atta mexicana). Durango, Mexico.Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Illustration of leaf-cutter ants (Atta mexicana) and Arceuthobium durangense by D. L. Nickrent. Click HERE to see the Golden Bough paper on this interesting association.
9. Arceuthobium gillii
   • Photo Plant attached to stem of host, Pinus leiophylla var. chihuahuana. Bear Canyon, Santa Catalina Mts., Arizona. Photo by D. L. Nickrent [DLN 1938].
   • Photo Closer view of carpellate plants with fruits. Bear Canyon, Santa Catalina Mts., Arizona. Photo by D. L. Nickrent [DLN 1938].
   • Photo Fruiting stem in hand. Pima County, AZ. Photo by D. L. Nickrent [DLN 1663].
10. Arceuthobium globosum
    • Photo A large carpellate plant. Rio Frio, Mexico. [DLN 2011]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
11. Arceuthobium minutissimum
    • Photo Parasitic on Pinus wallichiana. Bhutan. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
    • Photo Parasitic on Pinus wallichiana. Bhutan. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
    • Photo Parasitic on Pinus wallichiana. Bhutan. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
12. Arceuthobium oxycedri
    • Host tree, Juniperus oxycedrus, infected with Arceuthobium oxycedri. San Agustin de Guadalix, north of Madrid, Spain. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Close-up of infection on host branch. San Agustin de Guadalix, north of Madrid, Spain. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo. Habit of mistletoe on host tree, Juniperus oxycedrus. San Agustin de Guadalix, north of Madrid, Spain. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Globose, young infection on host tree, Juniperus oxycedrus. San Agustin de Guadalix, north of Madrid, Spain. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo. Infection on host branch. San Agustin de Guadalix, north of Madrid, Spain. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Close-up of young shoots. San Agustin de Guadalix, north of Madrid, Spain. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
13. Arceuthobium pini
    
    • Photo.  Habit of the mistletoe parasitic on Pinus yunnanensis, Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve in Northwest Yunnan, China. Photo by Cyril Greuter.
14. Arceuthobium pusillum
    • Photo Host trees (white spruce - Picea glauca) showing massive systemic witches' brooms. Emmet Co., Maine, USA. [DLN 1956]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Staminate plants from systemic infection of white spruce (Picea glauca). The only part of the mistletoe to emerge from the host stem are the short (1 cm) shoots that bear only one flower. These shoots are connected, however, inside the host by an extensive endophyte system. Maine, USA. Photo by Ken Robertson.
    • Photo Close-up of staminate inflorescence that consists of just one flower. Note the nectary in the center of the flower. Maine, USA. Photo by Ken Robertson.
    • Photo Carpellate plants. Emmet Co., Maine, USA. [DLN 1956]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Longitudinal section of host stem showing the cortical strands and sinkers of the parasite endophyte. X 100. Maine, USA. Photo by Ken Robertson.
15. Arceuthobium rubrum
    • Photo Note the bright red shoots and fruits that characterize this species. Durango, Mexico. [DLN 2071]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
16. Arceuthobium tibetense
    • Photo Carpellate plants. China, Tibet, prov. Sichuan, Shalui Shan Mts., 30 km NE of Batang, S of Yidun, 30°16'N/99°25'E, 3800 m alt., 25 June.1994. Photo by Walter Obermayer.
17. Arceuthobium verticilliflorum
    • Photo Carpellate plants with immature fruits. The seeds of this species are so large that they are not explosively dehisced as is the case with all other dwarf mistletoes. Molecular phylogenetic work shows that this is a secondary loss (i.e. this taxon is not ancestral to all other species in the genus). The white things on the middle plant are scale insects. Durango, Mexico. [DLN 2065]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Staminate plant (left) and carpellate plant (right). Durango, Mexico. Photo by Del Wiens.
    • Photo Seedling parasitizing a host pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum) under greenhouse conditions. Durango, Mexico. [DLN 2065]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
18. Arceuthobium vaginatum ssp. cryptopodum
    • Photo Shoots of the western US mistletoe emerging months after a greenhouse inoculation of the host (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum). Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo.  Young mistletoe shoots emerging from bark on main bole of Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum.  This shows how the mistletoe tissue can be latent and later emerge following disturbance (crack in bark, etc.).  S of Tres Lagunas, along Rt. 63, N of Pecos, NM. Photo 3 June 2004 by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo.  Carpellate (above) and staminate (below) shoots of the mistletoe emerging from host (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum).  Santa Fe National Forest, Johnson Mesa, Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Photo 2 June 2004 by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo.  Close-up of staminate shoots.  Note the variation in flower merousity; 3- and 4-merous flowers can be seen.  Santa Fe National Forest, Johnson Mesa, Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Photo 2 June 2004 by D. L. Nickrent.
19. Arceuthobium vaginatum ssp. vaginatum
    • Photo Seeds of this Mexican taxon without (left) and with (right) viscin coat. Note bubbles formed by photosynthesizing endosperms. [DLN 1980]. Photo by Ken Robertson.

Dendrophthora

1. Dendrophthora clavata
   • Photo Carpellate plant showing flowers and fruits. Cajon de Mamarramos, Department of Boyaco, Columbia. [DLN 2182]. Photo by Ken Robertson.
   • Photo Close-up of flowers and fruits. Cajon de Mamarramos, Department of Boyaco, Columbia. [DLN 2182]. Photo by Ken Robertson.
   • Photo Habit of plant on host tree. Pasachoa, Ecuador. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Close-up of mistletoe on host brach. Pasachoa, Ecuador. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Close-up of mistletoe showing the clavate (club-shaped) inflorescences and infructescences. Cuichoa, Ecuador. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Ecuador. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 10932. Photo by Robin Foster.
2. Dendrophthora costaricensis ssp. costaricensis
   • Photo Flowering and fruiting shoots. Costa Rica, San Jose Prov., Dist. Dota, San Geraldo, on road to Savaegre Hotel. Photo by Mauricio Bonaficino, June 17, 2004.
   • Photo Close-up of inflorescence and fruit. Costa Rica, San Jose Prov., Dist. Dota, San Geraldo, on road to Savaegre Hotel. Photo by Mauricio Bonaficino, June 17, 2004.
3. Dendrophthora costaricensis ssp. poasensis
   • Photo Shoots with young inflorescence. Costa Rica, Volcan Poás. Photo by Mauricio Bonaficino, July 8, 2004.
   • Photo Shoots with mature and maturing fruits. Costa Rica, Volcan Poás. Photo by Mauricio Bonaficino, July 8, 2004.
   • Photo Mature, flattened fruits. Costa Rica, Volcan Poás. Photo by Mauricio Bonaficino, July 8, 2004.
4. Dendrophthora elliptica
   • Photo. Perú. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 14265. Photo by Robin Foster.
5. Dendrophthora flagelliformis
   
   • Photo.  Close-up of inflorescences with young fruits.  Puerto Rico, Municipio of Sabana Grande, 30 June 1991, James S. Miller & Chris D. Sherman 6615. Link goes to TROPICOS image library MO.
6. Dendrophthora lueri
   • Photo. Ecuador. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 11743. Photo by Robin Foster.
7. Dendrophthora paucifolia
   • Photo. Perú. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 23558. Photo by Robin Foster.
   • Photo. Perú. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 23563. Photo by Robin Foster.
8. Dendrophthora roraimae
   • Photo Growing on Marcetia taxifolia (Melastomataceae). 2634 m alt. South-eastern part of Mount Kukenan, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela. Photo December 2004 by Andreas S. Fleischmann
   • Photo Growing on Maguireothamnus speciosus (Rubiaceae). 2634 m alt. South-eastern part of Mount Kukenan, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela. Photo December 2004 by Andreas S. Fleischmann."
   • Photo Fruiting plant. Host: Maguireothamnus speciosus (Rubiaceae). 2634 m alt. South-eastern part of Mount Kukenan, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela. Photo December 2004 by Andreas S. Fleischmann.
9. Dendrophthora squamigera
   • Photo Habit on host branch, from ericaceous forest. Costa Rica, San Jose Prov., Canton Perez Zeledón, Dist. Dota, Pueble San Gerardo, at top of Cerro de la Muerta. Photo by Josh Der June 21, 2004.
   • Photo. Collected shoots in hand, covered in lichen. Costa Rica, San Jose Prov., Canton Perez Zeledón, Dist. Dota, Pueble San Gerardo, at top of Cerro de la Muerta. Photo by Josh Der June 21, 2004.
   • Photo Close-up of shoots with flowers and fruits. Costa Rica, San Jose Prov., Canton Perez Zeledón, Dist. Dota, Pueble San Gerardo, at top of Cerro de la Muerta. Photo by Josh Der June 21, 2004.
   • Photo Another individual from the population showing polymorphism: darker green and lax shoots. Costa Rica, San Jose Prov., Canton Perez Zeledón, Dist. Dota, Pueble San Gerardo, at top of Cerro de la Muerta. Photo by Josh Der June 21, 2004.
10. Dendrophthora sp. 1
    
    • Photo.  Flowering shoot.  Bolivia, La Paz, Murillo.  Photo by James Solomon [coll. 19048, 10 May 1990].
11. Dendropthora sp. 1
    • Photo 1 and photo 2. Cuba. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo IDs 26982, 26983. Photos by Robin Foster.

Ginalloa - no photographs available

1. Ginalloa ovata
   • Photograph of isotype. Link goes to New York Botanical Garden.

Korthalsella

1. Korthalsella clavata
   • Photo Shoots. New Zealand. Photo by Dave Norton.
2. Korthalsella cylindrica
   • Flowering shoots, close-up of flowers. Link goes to University of Hawaii Vascular Plant Families.
3. Korthalsella disticha
   • Photo Habit of plant. Norfolk Island (between New Zealand and New Caledonia). Photo by Peter Bannister.
   • Photo Habit. Link goes to Australia National Botanic Gardens.
   • Photo.  Habit of plant in tree.  Photo by R. A. Howard (see Plant Image Collection, Smithsonian Inst.)
   • Photo.  Closer view of mistletoe.  Photo by R. A. Howard (see Plant Image Collection, Smithsonian Inst.)
   • Photo Close-up of stem. Link goes to Australia National Botanic Gardens.
   • Photo Close-up showing fruits. Link goes to Australia National Botanic Gardens.
   • Photos of shoots and close-up of fruiting shoots.  Mandjelia, New Caledonia. Photo 13 Nov. 2007 by C. Davidson (coll. J. Munzinger 4752). From FloraoftheWorld.org.
4. Korthalsella greyi
   • Photo Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
5. Korthalsella horneana
   
   • Shoots with fruits.  From Rare Plants of American Samoa. Photo 1994 by W. Arthur Whistler.
6. Korthalsella japonica.
   
   • Photo Shoot showing flowers and fruits. Tarumizu, Kagoshima, Japan. Photograph by Nagata Yoshio, published in "World of Plants" article by Mitsuru Hirota (Weekly Asahihyakka, Jan. 22, 1995).
   • Photo. Habit of mistletoe on host branch. Hong Kong. Photo by Shek-Shing Ma.
   • Photo. Closer view of stems with flowers and fruits. Hong Kong. Photo by Shek-Shing Ma.
   • Photos. A series of close-up photos of flowers, fruits, etc. Taiwan. Photos by Mingiweng. Link goes to Flickr.
7. Korthalsella latissima (including K. complanata)
   • Photo Note extremely flattened phylloclades. Hawai'i. [Molvray 309]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Shoots. Link goes to University of Hawai'i Vascular Plant Families.
   • Photo. Hawai'i. Flattened phylloclades with axillary fruits. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo. Hawaii. Close-up of fruits with emerging seeds. Unlike dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium) where the seed explosively exits from the fruit at the pedicel end, the seed of Korthalsella exits nonexplosively from the stigmatic end of the fruit. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Host tree, Acacia koa, with mistletoes. Koaia Tree Sanctuary, North Kohala, Hawai'i, Hawai'i. [DLN 4294]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Host tree, Acacia koa, with mistletoes, Kona Coast in background. Across road from Koaia Tree Sanctuary, North Kohala, Hawai'i, Hawai'i. [DLN 4294]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Close-up of mistletoe, parasitic on Acacia koa. Koaia Tree Sanctuary, North Kohala, Hawai'i, Hawai'i. [DLN 4294]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Another close-up of mistletoe, parasitic on Acacia koa. Koaia Tree Sanctuary, North Kohala, Hawai'i, Hawai'i. [DLN 4294]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Christina Hoffman, my gracious "host" while botanizing in Hawai'i! Across road from Koaia Tree Sanctuary, North Kohala, Hawai'i, Hawai'i. [DLN 4294]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
8. Korthalsella lindsayii
   
   • Photo.  Parasitic on Coprosma crassifolia. New Zealand. Photo by Peter Bannister.
   • Photo.  Parasitic on on Melicope simplex.  New Zealand. Photo by Peter Bannister.
   • Photo.  The diminutive mistletoe is present on a twig with lichens (Ramalina glaucescens). New Zealand.  Photo by Del Wiens.
   • Photo.  Mistletoe parasitic on Lophomyrtus obcordata. New Zealand. Photo by Del Wiens.
   • Photo.  A close-up view of the mistletoe, parasitc on Coprosma sp. New Zealand. Photo by Del Wiens.
9. Korthalsella opuntia  
   
   • Photo. Most similar to var. gaudichaudi. Parasitic on the endemic Euodia borbonica. La Réunion. Photo by Rogier van Vugt, Feb. 9, 2008.
   • Photo. Most similar to var. richardi. La Réunion. Photo by Rogier van Vugt, Feb. 13, 2008.
   • Photo. Possibly var. richardi. Madagascar. Photo by Del Wiens.
10. Korthalsella salicornioides
    
    • Photo. Parasitic on Erica lusitanica (an introduced host).  New Zealand. Photo by Peter Bannister.
    • Photo. Parasitic on Kunzea ericoides.  New Zealand. Photo by Peter Bannister.
    • Photo.  Parasitic on Kunzea ericoides.  New Zealand. Photo by Del Wiens.

Notothixos

1. Notothixos cornifolius
   • Photo A very "Viscum-like" species. Queensland, Australia. [DLN 2808]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
2. Notothixos incanus
   • Photo Habit of the plant parasitizing Melaleuca. Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Plant showing haustorial connection to host. Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Closer view of mistletoe shoots. Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photos. Coastal flat behind Moonee Beach, north of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Photos by Tony from Sydney. Link goes to Flickr.
3. Notothixos leiophyllus
   • Photo Note silvery indumentum. Queensland, Australia. [DLN 2785]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
4. Notothixos cf. malayanus
   • One view and another of the habit of the plant, growing on Dolichandrone spathacea (Bignoniaceae) in a peat swamp heat forest between hot springs, Had Chao Mai National Park, Prov. Trang, Peninsular Thailand, alt. 60 m. Photo October 2005 by A. Fleischmann.
   • Close-up of a branch. Note the dense velvety tomentum of dendritic hairs on the young stem and leaves. Location same as above. Photo October 2005 by A. Fleischmann.
   • Close-up of a pistillate plant with flowers. Location same as above. Photo October 2005 by A. Fleischmann.
5. Notothixos subaureus.
   • Photo Mistletoe with flowers and fruits. Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.

Phoradendron

1. Phoradendron berteroanum (DC) Grisebach. (= P. henslovii)
   • Photo Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Close-up of inflorescence. Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Habit of fruiting plant. Isabella Island, Galapagos. Photo by Thomas Rödl.
   • Photo Close-up of infructescence. Isabella Island, Galapagos. Photo by Thomas Rödl.
   • Photo A variant of this species showing smaller rounded leaves (see Kuijt 2004, Fig. 44). Photo by Thomas Rödl.
2. Phoradendron bolleanum (densum variant)
   • Photo Habitat of mistletoe with many hosts (Juniperus occidentalis). Along I5, N of US 96, Siskiyou Co, California, USA. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo The host tree, Juniperus occidentalis, with mistletoe. Siskiyou Co, California, USA. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Mistletoe in flower. Siskiyou Co, California, USA. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Fruiting plant. Siskiyou Co, California, USA. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Close-up of fruits. Siskiyou Co, California, USA. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
3. Phoradendron brachystachyum (syn. P. diguetianum)
   • Photo.  Parasitic on Pachycereus pringlei, forming subglobular excrescence to 3 dm on truck.  Cape Region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Photo 27 Nov. 1969 by Reid Moran (slide archived at the San Diego Natural History Museum).
   • Photo.  A second image of the above unusual host/parasite combination. Note the extensive canker formation, caused by hypertrophy of host tissue at the site of the mistletoe haustorium.  North of Migrino, Baja California Sur,  Mexico.  Photo 8 Nov. 1971 by Reid Moran (slide archived at the San Diego Natural History Museum).
     
4. Phoradendron californicum
   • Photo Host, Prosopis julifolia with mistletoe. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Mistletoe on host, Prosopis julifolia. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Fruiting plant. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photos. Several excellent photos of plant. Coachella Valley, California. Photos by Joe Decruyenaere. Link goes to Flickr.
5. Phoradendron chrysocladon
   • Photo Collected plant. Costa Rica, Punta Arenas: Coto Brus San Vito, Estacion Biologica Las Cruces. Photo by Josh Der, June 17, 2004.
   • Photo Close-up of inflorescence. Costa Rica, Punta Arenas: Coto Brus San Vito, Estacion Biologica Las Cruces. Photo by Josh Der, June 17, 2004.
   • Photo. Belize. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 9692. Photo by Robin Foster.
   • Photo. Ecuador. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 21275. Photo by Robin Foster.
   • Photo. Ecuador. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 13082. Photo by Robin Foster.
6. Phoradendron crassifolium
   
   • Photo.  Shoot with fruits.  Photo by R. A. Howard (see Plant Image Collection, Smithsonian Inst.)
7. Phoradendron foresteriae.
   
   • Photo. Shoot with inflorescences. Chiapas, Mexico in the vicinity of San Cristobal de las Casas. Photo August 2008 by Christopher Randle.
8. Phoradendron hexastichum
   
   • Photo. Shoot with fruits.  Photo by R. A. Howard (see Plant Image Collection, Smithsonian Inst.)
9. Phoradendron juniperinum
   • Photo On Juniperus osteosperma, Pecos New Mexico, USA. Photo by Dan Nickrent.
   • Photo Close-up of fruiting plant on Juniperus osteosperma, Pecos New Mexico, USA. Photo by Dan Nickrent
   • Photo Host plant, Juniperus occidentalis, infected with mistletoe. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Mistletoe on host plant, Juniperus osteosperma. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Close-up of staminate shoots. Photo by Wm. Vance Baird.
   • Photo Close-up of staminate plants with fully open staminate flowers. S of Jemez Springs, NM. Photo by Dan Nickrent.
   • Photo Close-up of carpellate plant with paired fruits. S of Jemez Springs, NM. Photo by Dan Nickrent.
10. Phoradendron nervosum
    • Photo Pasachoa, Ecuador. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
11. Phoradendron piperoides
    • Photos A series of digital photos showing various parts of the plant (leaves, inflorescences, fruits, etc.) Link goes to La Flora Digital de La Selva.
12. Phoradendron quadrangulare
    • Photo 1 and photo 2. Panamá. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo IDs rf3 and rf4. Photos by Robin Foster.
13. Phoradendron rubrum.  
    
    • Photo. Flowering and fruiting shoots.  From Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Wildflowers of the Everglades.  Photo by Roger Hammer.
14. Phoradendron serotinum ssp. serotinum
    • Photo Parasitic on Quercus coccinea, Elmore Co, Alabama, USA. [DLN 2135]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Carpellate plant in fruit. College Station, Texas. [DLN 2005]. Photo by Ken Robertson.
    • Photos. A number of photos from southern Illinois plants. Search "Phoradendron serotinum" on PhytoImages.
15. Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum
    • Photo Staminate inflorescence (left) and carpellate (right). College Station, Brazos Co., Texas, USA. [DLN 2152]. Photo by Ken Robertson.
    • Photo Staminate inflorescence (left) and carpellate (right), sectioned longitudinally. As above. Photo by Ken Robertson.
    • Photo Seed with viscin removed (left) and intact (right). As above. Photo by Ken Robertson.
    • Photo Seeds with viscin coats fully expanded, floating in water. College Station, Brazos Co., Texas, USA. [DLN 2342]. Photo by Ken Robertson.
16. Phoradendron scabberimum
    • Photo Mistletoe epiparasitic on Phoradendron longifolium, Sinaloa, Mexico. This young plant attached to a leaf, hence it will probably not be able to fully develop. Note that Kuijt (2004) sunk P. scabberimum into P. longifolium. Does this photo thus represent autoparasitism? The phylogenetic studies by Ashworth (2000) suggests that these taxa are distinctive, but more work is needed! Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo An older epiparasitic mistletoe on Phoradendron longifolium. Arrow indicates point of attachment. Sinaloa, Mexico. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
17. Phoradendron trinervium
    
    • Photo.  Shoot with inflorescences and fruits.  Photo by R. A. Howard (see Plant Image Collection, Smithsonian Inst.)
18. Phoradendron sp. 1
    • Photo Near Boca Limon, NW of San Vito, Costa Rica. The parasite has nearly taken over the entire host tree! Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
19. Phoradendron sp. 2
    • Photo Perú. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 15785. Photo by Robin Foster.
20. Phoradendron sp. 3
    • Photo Perú. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 14419. Photo by Robin Foster.
21. Phoradendron sp. 4
    • Photo Perú. From Neotropical Live Plant Photos. Photo ID 14402. Photo by Robin Foster.

Viscum

1. Viscum album
   • Photo Habit of numerous plants in tree. Vienna, Austria. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Link goes to Flora of Europe, Photographic Herbarium.
   • Photo Several photos, including close-ups of the fruits. Link goes to BIOIMAGES: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK).
   • Photos.  Many excellent photos from the Botanical Image Database showing various morphological features.
   • Photo.  Close-up of shoots with young fruit. Spain. Photo by Dan Nickrent.
   • Photo of mistletoe, showing central terminal fruit subtended by smaller lateral shoots and then larger lateral shoots. Photo by Dan Nickrent.
   • Photo Fruiting plant, from population introduced to California, USA. Photo by D. Wiens.
2. Viscum album ssp. austriacum
   • Photo Parasitic on Pinus sylvestris. Lower Austria. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
3. Viscum alni-formosae
   • Photo An endemic species, parasitic on Alnus, found in the central mountains at about 2000 m. Photo by J.-M. Hu, June 16, 1993. Nan-Tou, Taiwan.
4. Viscum articulatum
   • Photo Hyperparasitic on Amyema cambagei. Queensland, Australia. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo On Cassia fistula. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Close-up of connection to host, Cassia fistula. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photos. A series of close-up photos of flowers, fruits, etc. Taiwan. Photos by Mingiweng. Link goes to Flickr.
5. Viscum capense
   • Photo Staminate plants collected at Cape Point, South Africa. [DLN 4083]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Habit of plant parasitic on Lycium, Karoo Botanical Gardens, near Worcester, South Africa. [DLN 4086]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
6. Viscum capitellatum.
   • Photo Hyperparasitic on Dendrophthoe falcata. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Hyperparasitic on Dendrophthoe. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
   • Photo Hyperparasitic on Dendrophthoe. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
7. Viscum coloratum
   
   • Photos.  Jilin Shirakawa street, China. Photo by Xuke Xue. Link goes to PlantPhotoBank.cn.
8. Viscum crassulae
   • Photo Showing habit of mistletoe parasitic on Portulacaria afra, near Committee's Drift, South Africa. [DLN 4121]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
   • Photo Close-up of plant showing the extremely succulent stems. [DLN 4121]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
9. Viscum cuneifolium
   
   • Photo.  Collected specimen.  Hazomiavona, Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar.  Photo by M. Irwin Nov. 2005.
   • Photo.  Closer view showing young fruits.  Hazomiavona, Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar.  Photo by M. Irwin Nov. 2005.
10. Viscum diospyrosicolum
    
    • Photos   Fujian, Hu Bo Liu, China. Photo by Xuke Xue. Link goes to PlantPhotoBank.cn.
11.  Viscum loranthi
    • Photo Hyperparasitic on Scurrula elata. Nepal. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
    • Photo Close-up of plant in fruit. Hyperparasitic on Scurrula elata. Nepal. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel
12. Viscum minimum
    • Euphorbia polygona, the succulent host of Viscum minimum - a diminutive mistletoe that is too small to be seen at the tip of Gerhard Marx'x finger! Near Riebeek Oos, South Africa. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Close-up of plants parasitic on Euphorbia polygona. Near Riebeek Oos, South Africa. [DLN 4118]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Extreme close-up of plants showing staminate flowering dehiscing pollen. Near Riebeek Oos, South Africa. [DLN 4118]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Plant in fruit. On Euphorbia sp. Photo by J. Mauseth.
    • Photo.  Euphorbia with Viscum fruits.  Photo by R. A. Howard (see Plant Image Collection, Smithsonian Inst.)
13. Viscum monoicum
    • Photo Habit of plant. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
    • Photo Fruits. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
    • Photo Many germinated seeds attaching to the mother plant (autoparasitism). Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
14. Viscum obovatum
    • Photo Habit of mistletoe parasitic on Ochna, near Kleinemonde, South African. [DLN 4112]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
    • Photo Close-up of plant showing the characteristic warty fruits, near Kleinemonde, South African. [DLN 4112]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
15. Viscum obscurum
    • Photo Staminate (left) and pistillate (right) plants, near Grahamstown, South Africa. [DLN 4108]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
16. Viscum ovalifolium
    • Photo Habit. Hong Kong. Photo by Shek-Shing Ma.
    • Photo flowers. Hong Kong. Photo by Shek-Shing Ma.
    • Photo Fruiting shoots. Hong Kong. Photo by Shek-Shing Ma.
    • Photo Fruits. Note warts on young fruit disappear when fruit expands upon maturity. Hong Kong. Photo by Shek-Shing Ma. 
    • Photo Seeds. Hong Kong. Photo by Shek-Shing Ma.
    • Photos. Seeds and seedlings attaching to host organs. Vietnam. Photos by Ductrongeb. Link goes to Flickr.
17. Viscum orientale [=V. hyneanum]
    • Photo Habit. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
    • Photo Close-up showing flowers. Sri Lanka. Photo by Gerhard Glatzel.
    • Photo Sarawak, Malaysia. [DLN 4003]. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.

DNA Sequence Data

• PPC Tables (includes lists of unpublished sequences)
• NCBI Taxonomy Browser (Genbank, published sequences for Viscaceae)

Phylogeny

References