Desert Mistletoe
Phoradendron californicum
Phainopepla nitens
Watercolor from specimen found in the Castle Dome Mountains, La Paz County, Arizona on 23 Feb. 1992.
Berries are eaten by birds. The hard seeds are then passed through the alimentary canal or else regurgitated and left on a branch. There they can germinate and establish a root system within the host plant. Location Organ Pipe Cactus NM.
PARASITIC SHRUB: A pendulous shrub up to a
meter in length growing from the branches of one of the leguminous
trees (Ironwood, Mesquite, Palo Verde, Acacia), infrequently in other woody
plants.
LEAFLESS: Leaves are reduced to scales. Green twigs carry on
photosynthesis but as a parasite it takes up water and nutrients through its
roots that grow into the cambium and xylem of the host.
FLOWERS: Tiny greenish-yellow flowers send forth strongly fragrant
perfume from late Jan. to Mar.
FRUIT: White berries contain several sticky red seeds.
UNARMED.
RANGE: Common wherever suitable host trees occur. If many large
mistletoe plants become established on a single host tree it may succumb to the
attack and die. Vigorous trees may abort the infected branch, thereby ridding
itself of the parasite. But, consider also that berry-feeding birds deposit
fertilizing guano.