SafePlants

Pineland Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium vaginatum)

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a parasitic shrub that grows on trees. While the text doesn't explicitly mention toxicity, any plant growing in a natural environment might have been exposed to pesticides or other treatments.

Considerations for Children

• As a parasitic plant, Arceuthobium vaginatum grows on the branches and twigs of trees, particularly Ponderosa Pine. Children exploring outdoors could potentially come into contact with it.

Arceuthobium vaginatum, commonly known as Pineland Dwarf Mistletoe, is a parasitic plant affecting various pine species.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Arceuthobium vaginatum (Willd.) J. Presl
• Common Names: Pineland Dwarf Mistletoe, Pine Dwarf Mistletoe, Southwestern Dwarf Mistletoe
• Family: Santalaceae (formerly Viscaceae)
• Subspecies:
  • Arceuthobium vaginatum var. cryptopodum (Engelm.) Cronquist
  • Arceuthobium vaginatum ssp. cryptopodum
  • Arceuthobium vaginatum (Willdenow) Presl subsp. cryptopodum (Engelmann) Hawksworth &amp Wiens

Distribution and Habitat

• Found in the Southwestern United States.
• Specifically mentioned locations include:
  • Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima Co., Arizona
  • New Mexico
  • Southwestern States

Ecological Role

• Parasitic shrub that lives on the twigs and branches of Ponderosa Pine and other pine species.
• Infestations can occur on Ponderosa Pine.

Morphological Characteristics

• Growth Habit: Subshrub, Shrub
• Duration: Perennial
• Forms dense clusters of orange-yellow twigs.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Parasitic on Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) and other pine species.
• Mention of a study relating the abundance of Arceuthobium vaginatum ssp. cryptopodum to the Western Tanager bird. However, the study showed no significant relationship.

Further Information

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
• uBio
• Encyclopedia of Life
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)