Fruiting Coastal Dwarf-Mistletoe parasite growing on Monterey Pine tree host.
(Arceuthobium littorum) Coastal Dwarf-Mistletoe is a Native parasitic mistletoe that only grows on native Monterey Pine and Bishop Pine; endemic to the coastline of northern California where these trees grow. Main stem is 3--14 cm, with segmented offshoots that are yellowish brown to olive green, with fragile, jointed stems. Only a tiny part of the plant is visible; most is parasitizing beneath the bark. Parasitic specifically on Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) and Pinus muricata (Bishop Pine). Peak bloom time:
July-November. Fruits are clusters of pale green, spherical-shaped balls in the fall. An example observation of fruiting: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93928981
See Fred Watson Journal Post discussion of Arceuthobium littorum vrs A. campylopodum: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/fredwatson/69693-coastal-dwarf-mistletoe-arceuthobium-littorum-taxonomic-history
TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment?7836,7837,7845
A search on Jepson's eFlora of Arceuthobium littorum-- Jepson calls it a "synonym" and takes you to A. campylopodum. https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=13881
These 3 local references call it Arceuthobium littorum, Coastal Pine Dwarf Mistletoe:
Arceuthobium littorum (Pine/Dwarf Mistletoe) "Habitat: Coastal. This species is found only near the coast, on Monterey and Bishop Pines (Pinus radiata and Pinus muricata). It is wholly parasitic, using specially modified roots called haustoria to draw water and nutrients from its host plant. Although Jepson combines this species with two others under Arceuthobium campylodum, more recent literature suggests that differences in form and host plants justify keeping the three species separate."
Monterey County Wildflowers, Trees and Ferns https://montereywildflowers.com/viscaceae/
These 2 local references also call it Arceuthobium littorum (Coastal Pine Dwarf Mistletoe):
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 407.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 308-309.
