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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE MISTLETOE FAMILY | ||
| These plants are parasitic on tree branches, but also have chlorophyll, and are thus called hemiparasites. There is usually a noticeable swelling where the mistletoe attaches to the host tree. The leaves are opposite and mostly reduced to scales. The flowers are in branched clusters or in the axils of the leaves. Male and female flowers are on separate plants.. | ||
| DWARF MISTLETOE | ||
| LATIN NAME: Arceuthobium pusillum | ||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | ||
| Dwarf mistletoe grows on conifers such as spruce or pine. The stem is fragile and is simple to sparingly branched. It is greenish-brown to dark brown in colour. The leaves are opposite and are very small and scale-like. The male and female flowers are on separate plants and are found in the axils of the leaves. This species is known to cause “witches broom”. | ||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | ||
| Dwarf mistletoe is parasitic on white spruce trees or other conifers. | ||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | ||
| This plant is found in east-central Saskatchewan in the Mid-Boreal Lowland ecoregion. | ||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | ||
| Dwarf mistletoe is endangered because of rarity in Saskatchewan. This species is regionally restricted to eastern Saskatchewan and population sizes vary. Immediate or probable threats have been identified. | ||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY DWARF MISTLETOE | ||
| * Are the plants growing on a spruce or pine tree? * Are the stems and leaves brown? * Is the plant less than 2 cm tall? * Did you find it in east-central Saskatchewan? |
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| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found dwarf mistletoe! | ||
