Most noticeable in winter when trees are leafless. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-6-12. © Peter J. Bryant 		 

Big-leaf Mistletoe (Long-spiked Mistletoe, Sycamore Mistletoe)

Phoradendron serotinum ssp. macrophyllum

A dioecious parasite of riparian trees, seen high on branches of mature alder, cottonwood, walnut, willow, and sycamore.  Common in mountain foothills and Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts). The seed is surrounded by a gummy, sticky substance which allows it to adhere to the branches of host trees.  Germinating seeds produce a root-like haustorium that penetrates the host tissue to absorb nutrients and establish a new plant (Clarke). Stems grow up to 5 ft. long.  There are many different kinds of mistletoe, and most of them have long-standing cultural and medicinal uses (Wikipedia). Flowering: December - March. 

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Female flowers produce a translucent, smooth, white or pink-tinged berry about 3/16 in. diameter. On Western Sycamore, Platanus racemosa at Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano, CA. 1-26-08. © Joan Avise

Female

Male
James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-7-12. © Peter J. Bryant

The berry is an attractive food source to many birds who are very helpful in seed distribution.  Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-6-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Female

Male
Leaves are oval, smooth-margined, yellow-green, thick and fleshy, opposite, up to 2 in. long. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-7-12. © Peter J. Bryant

The inconspicuous greenish flowers grow on jointed spikes 5/8 to 1 1/4 in. long, which sprout from leaf axils. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-6-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Female

Male
James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-7-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Pistillate (female) joints have about 12 flowers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-6-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Female

Male
Staminate (male) joints have about 20 flowers. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-7-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Pistillate (female) joints have about 12 flowers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-6-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Female

Male
Staminate (male) joints have about 20 flowers, each with 2-5 stamens. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-7-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Flowers (~1.2mm diameter) have no petals. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-6-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Female

Male
Flowers (~1.2mm diameter) have no petals. Male flowers each have 2-5 stamens. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 2-7-12. © Peter J. Bryant
Associations with Insects   Associations with Birds

Larval Foodplant for:


Great Purple Hairstreak,
Atlides halesus
Thrips		  

Berries are a major food source for:


Phainopepla,
Phainopepla nitens
And the plant is spread through seeds in the bird's droppings