Arceuthobium sp.

Phoradendron juniperinum

Flowers and fruits of Arceuthobium

Mature fruit and seed dispersal in Arceuthobium

Unlike the Loranthaceae, all members of the Viscaceae are eiphytic parasites. They have haustoria that grow into the host tree, jointed stems, and opposite, simple, entire leaves (reduced to scales in some taxa) without stipules and often without petioles.

The flowers are inconspicuous, unisexual, and radially symmetric.   The perianth consists of 3-4 greenish to drab (what a wonderful range) tepals.

There are usually 3 stamens that are opposite the tepals and lack filaments.  Let us look for this in the material we collect. The ovary consists of 3-4 united carpels with an inferior ovary and basal placentation.  The ovules never actually become separate from the placenta and never develop a testa [aka seed coat]. 

Pollination, at least of Arceuthobium, is apparently by insects, though which insects is not known for most species. Thrips have been implicated for one species.  The reason that all species are thought to be insect pollinated is that the pollen is spiny and both the staminate and pistillate flowers emit odors.   

The fruit is a berry, with 1-2 seeds. The seeds are ejected explosively from the fruits when mature, at initial velocities of 90 ft/sec and may fly up to 15 m (See Hawksworth and Wiens).  The seeds adher to anything that they strike, which is often the needle of the host coniferous species.  They are washed down the needle to the branch by the first rainfall.  This process accounts for local dispersal; birds may be responsible for long distance dispersal.

The Viscaceae is pantropical and has, in additional significant extensions into temperate regions.  Significant?  Where would the druids have been without mistletoe?  Check Judd et al. for more tidbits about the family.