Phoradendron californicum

Common Name: Desert Mistletoe
Oˊodham Name: Ha:kwaḍ (Ha:kwadt) Audio
Group: Succulents － Desert, Desert Grassland

Description

Phoradendron californicum is a parasitic plant that grows in desert trees below about 4000 ft. It may eventually kill the host by starving it of nutrients. The parasite is spread by birds who are attracted to its white, pink, or red tinted fruit. They pass the seeds onto a new host while sitting on the branches of other trees. Phoradendron is usually seen infecting Mesquite, Palo Verdes, Catclaw Acacia, and Ironwood trees.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta － Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida － Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae

Order Santalales

Family Viscaceae － Christmas Mistletoe family

Genus Phoradendron Nutt. － mistletoe

Species Phoradendron californicum Nutt. － mesquite mistletoe

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map