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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Arceuthobium douglasii

Arceuthobium douglasii Engelm.

Douglas Fir Dwarf Mistletoe, Douglas-fir Dwarf Mistletoe

Viscaceae (Christmas Mistletoe Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ARDO

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Tiny, branching, olive to dull blue-green or orange-green growths with bud-like tips on tree limbs.

This parasitic plant grows long thread-like roots inside tree branches, inflicting slow death. It is conspicuous only in causing host trees to branch into dense vertical "witches brooms." It is most common on upper branches, but occasionally is visible near eye level.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Dioecious
Inflorescence: Spike , Terminal
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Branches up to about 3 inches long. Often no more than 1 inch.
Leaf: Brownish green.
Fruit: Olive green.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Staminate flowers: 2.3 mm in diameter, tepals 3(-4), reddish-purple; Pistillate flowers: 1.5 mm in diameter.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , TX , UT , WA , WY
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: British Columbia and Alberta south throughout western United States to California and Texas.
Native Habitat: Conifer limbs.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Arceuthobium douglasii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Arceuthobium douglasii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Arceuthobium douglasii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-31
Research By: TWC Staff

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