Phoradendron californicum Nuttall

Desert Mistletoe
Viscaceae - Santalales

[Plants of San Diego County HOME]

Protologue: J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, n.s., 1: 185 (1848)
Pronunciation: Pho-ra-dén-dron ca-li-fór-ni-cum
Etymology: Gr. phor, a thief, + dendron, tree, hence "tree thief" + of or from California

Jepson eFlora Treatment

Jepson eFlora Key to Phoradendron taxa

SD County Synoptic Voucher

For an updated classification of the Viscaceae, see:
Mathiasen, R. L. and S. C. Kenaley. 2016. The classification of California Viscaceae: An alternative perspective. Madroño 63:8-33.

Distribution:
  
LEFT: S.D. County Plant Atlas (http://sdplantatlas.org). Note distribution both in coastal and desert regions, not in the intervening montane regions.
MIDDLE: CCH2 (http://cch2.org). RIGHT: GBIF (http://gbif.org). Accessed 22 Mar 2020.

Images:

Phoradendron californicum
Mass of desert mistletoe (center, right) growing on catclaw, Senegalia greggii.


Phoradendron californicum
Close-up of stems bearing fruits.


Phoradendron californicum
Berries have a sticky, mucilaginous mesocarp, functioning in fruit dispersal by birds.