Coastal Dwarf Mistletoe

Description

Arceuthobium littorum-is a species of-dwarf mistletoe-known as-coastal dwarf mistletoe. It is-endemic-to the coastline of northern-California, where it lives as a-parasite-on-Bishop Pine-and-Monterey Pine-trees. This is a dark brown or greenish-shrub-which is visible as a network of scaly stems extending above the bark of its host tree. Most of the mistletoe is located inside the host tree, attached to it via-haustoria, which tap the tree for water and nutrients. The leaves of the mistletoe are reduced to scales on its surface.