Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Arceuthobium douglasii
Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.

Habitat: Parasitic primarily on Pseudotsuga menziesii, rarely on adjacent Abies and Picea.

Flowers: May-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Description:
General:

Small, glabrous, monoecious shrubs parasitic on the branches of Pseudotsuga menziesii, the stems greenish or bluish-green, 0.5-3 cm. long, the segments 1 mm. thick and 3- to 6- times as long; accessory branches, when present, in one plane, fan-like.

Leaves:

Leaves none, reduced to small, opposite scales.

Flowers:

Staminate flowers paired at the nodes, terminal on short, pedicle-like joints, greenish-yellow, 2 mm. broad, the perianth parts 3 or 4, fleshy, each bearing a sessile anther; pistillate flowers paired at the nodes, with a short pedicle; ovary inferior; perianth parts 2, erect; style lacking; stigma 1.

Fruits:

Berry ovoid, 3 mm. long, maturing the second summer, 1-seeded, the seed ultimately explosively expelled and tending to stick to the surface on which it lands.

Accepted Name:
Arceuthobium douglasii Engelm.
Publication: In Wheeler, Rep. vi. 253. 1879.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Arceuthobium douglasii in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Arceuthobium douglasii checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Arceuthobium douglasii information.

E-Flora BC: Arceuthobium douglasii atlas page.

CalPhotos: Arceuthobium douglasii photos.

USDA Plants: Arceuthobium douglasii information.

5 photographs:
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