Mistletoe (2)

Pineland Dwarf Mistletoe
Arceuthobium vaginatum

Family: Sandalwood (Santalaceae)
AKA: Southwestern Dwarf Mistletoe
Photo taken on: May 12, 2011
Location: FS 289, Jemez Mountains, NM
Life Zones: Montane
Habitat: Ponderosa forests

Parasitic on Ponderosa pines. It is yellow-green turning orange. The branches are about 4" long.

Flora of North America reference.

Juniper Mistletoe
Phoradendron juniperinum

Family: Sandalwood (Santalaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: December 12, 2010
Location: Pajarito Plateau, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Pinyon-juniper woods

8" to 14" inch balls of mistletoe are parasites of Junipers. Mistletoe looks very similar to juniper leaves. The leaves are tiny and scale-like on the smooth, branched, yellow-green stems.

The tiny, greenish male and female flowers are on separate plants. The female flowers are followed by small, round pinkish berries.

Photo taken on: December 12, 2010
Location: Pajarito Plateau, NM

Flora of North America reference.