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sugar pine dwarf mistletoe

Scientific Name: Arceuthobium californicum

Family: Viscaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Subshrub, Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Sugar Pine Dwarf Mistletoe and Related Species

This page explores several species of dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium), particularly those affecting sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana). Dwarf mistletoes are parasitic plants that can cause significant damage to conifer stands.

Considerations for Pets

  • Dwarf mistletoe are parasitic plants that grows on trees, and are not typically accessible to pets.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Accepted Name: Arceuthobium campylopodum
  • Common Name: Sugar pine dwarf mistletoe (English)
  • Synonyms/Related Species:
    • Arceuthobium californicum
    • Arceuthobium cyanocarpum (Limber pine dwarf mistletoe)
    • Arceuthobium tsugense subsp. mertensianae (Mountain hemlock dwarf mistletoe)
    • Arceuthobium vaginatum (Southwestern dwarf mistletoe)
    • Arceuthobium siskiyouense (Knobcone pine dwarf mistletoe)

Distribution and Habitat

  • These dwarf mistletoes are found in various locations, including California, Oregon, and the southwestern United States.
  • Sugar pine, a primary host, ranges in elevation from near sea level in the Coast Ranges to higher elevations.

Ecological Role

  • Dwarf mistletoes are parasitic, causing serious damage to stands of sugar pine by robbing them of water, nutrients, and sugars.
  • They can weaken trees, making them more susceptible to bark beetle attacks and other diseases.
  • In some areas, foresters prune trees and plant sugar pines to manage dwarf mistletoe infestations.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Bark beetles are frequently associated with dwarf mistletoe infestations, often attacking weakened trees.
  • The fungus Atropellis pinicola attacks branches of young or stressed sugar pines.
  • Birds may play a role in the dispersal of true mistletoes (as opposed to dwarf mistletoes, which spread via fruits).

Further Information

  • Discover Life offers information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Arceuthobium californicum.
  • The US Department of Agriculture provides resources on the identification of dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium).
  • ResearchGate features reports on the occurrence of limber pine dwarf mistletoe and mountain hemlock dwarf mistletoe on sugar pine.