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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: PerennialHabit: 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 , PurpleBloom 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 , WYCanada: 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 PlantsFNA: Find Arceuthobium douglasii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Arceuthobium douglasii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-31Research By: TWC Staff