Phoradendron pauciflorum
Encyclopedia
Phoradendron pauciflorum is a species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family
known by the common name fir mistletoe. It is native to northern Mexico and sections of California
and Arizona
, where it grows in coniferous forests.
This mistletoe
is a parasitic plant
on its single host tree, the white fir (Abies concolor). It is a shrub
producing many erect green branches which can exceed half a meter long. Its stems are lined with pairs of small, oppositely arranged leaves with widely lance-shaped blades up to 2.5 centimeters long.
As a hemiparasite the mistletoe taps its host tree for water and nutrients but contains some chlorophyll
and can photosynthesize
some energy for itself as well. The plant is dioecious
, with male and female individuals producing different forms of inflorescence
. Female flowers yield yellowish to light pink spherical berries
each about 4 millimeters wide.
Santalaceae
Santalaceae is a widely distributed family of flowering plants which, like other members of Santalales, are partially parasitic on other plants...
known by the common name fir mistletoe. It is native to northern Mexico and sections of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, where it grows in coniferous forests.
This mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
is a parasitic plant
Parasitic plant
A parasitic plant is one that derives some or all of its sustenance from another plant. About 4,100 species in approximately 19 families of flowering plants are known. Parasitic plants have a modified root, the haustorium, that penetrates the host plant and connects to the xylem, phloem, or...
on its single host tree, the white fir (Abies concolor). It is a shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
producing many erect green branches which can exceed half a meter long. Its stems are lined with pairs of small, oppositely arranged leaves with widely lance-shaped blades up to 2.5 centimeters long.
As a hemiparasite the mistletoe taps its host tree for water and nutrients but contains some chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
and can photosynthesize
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
some energy for itself as well. The plant is dioecious
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
, with male and female individuals producing different forms of inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
. Female flowers yield yellowish to light pink spherical berries
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
each about 4 millimeters wide.