Leaves gray-green, dull, and smaller than in ssp. macrophyllus. On Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia, Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 2-5-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Hairy (Oak) Mistletoe

Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum
(Previously Phoradendron villosum)

A hemiparasite of oaks and some woody chaparral shrubs such as manzanita, California bay laurel, and sumac. It taps the host for water and nutrients but does its own photosynthesis. It produces many erect, up to 3 ft. long branches with brittle stems. The opposite, thick, often dark green leaves are covered with short, dense, matted, woolly hairs which are best seen with a microscope (Clarke). Flowers are on jointed spikes, often clustered, growing in the leaf axils.  Pistillate joints are 10-15-flowered, staminate 25-30-flowered, flowers with three sepals and two-chambered anthers.  Pistillate and staminate on separate plants (dioecious).  The fruit is a 3/16 in. diameter pinkish-white berry.  Flowering July to September. 

Back to Viscaceae of Orange County, California
Back to Plants of Orange County, California
Back to Natural History of Orange County, California

On Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia, Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 2-5-12. © Peter J. Bryant
On Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia, Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 2-4-12. © Joan Avise.

On Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia, Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 2-5-12. © Peter J. Bryant