American mistletoe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American mistletoe
• Pacific mistletoe
• eastern mistletoe
• hairy mistletoe
• oak mistletoe
• western mistletoe
• Christmas Mistletoe
• Leafy Mistletoe

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phoradendron flavescens var. glabriusculum
• Phoradendron flavescens var. orbiculatum
• Phoradendron serotinum subsp. tomentosum
• Phoradendron serotinum subsp. angustifolium
• Phoradendron serotinum
• Phoradendron wilkinsonii
• Phoradendron macrotomum
• Phoradendron orbiculatum
• Phoradendron eatonii
• Phoradendron goldmanii
• Phoradendron flavescens
• Phoradendron tomentosum
• Phoradendron serotinum var. macrotomum
• Phoradendron flavescens var. macrotomum
• Phoradendron engelmannii var. clavigerum
• Phoradendron puberulum var. chihuahuense
• Phoradendron flavens var. tomentosum
• Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. tomentosum
• Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. angustifolium
• Viscum rugosum
• Viscum serotinum
• Viscum leucarpum
• Viscum ochroleucum
• Viscum tomentosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Phoradendron leucarpum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Santalales and the family Santalaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Phoradendron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Phylladenron leucarpum, exhibits a specific range across various regions of the United States. In the North-Central U.S.A., its presence is documented throughout the states of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Additionally, the species extends its reach into the Northeastern U.S.A. as well. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Indiana. This distribution highlights its ability to thrive in diverse habitats across the central and northeastern parts of the country.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Phloranthemum leucocarpum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a perennial, the plant establishes a stable physiological presence in its habitat, allowing it to accumulate biomass and reproductive structures over an extended period. This life strategy enables the plant to withstand seasonal fluctuations and invest energy into long-term survival and repeated reproductive efforts, distinguishing it from annual or biennial species that have more transient lifespans.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phloradenron leucarpum is characterized by a woody structure and a growth form consistent with a shrub. While its ecological niche allows for a range of habitats spanning aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, it is primarily classified as a terrestrial species. Despite its ability to exist in various moisture levels, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as a liana or vine, instead functioning as a self-supporting plant. In terms of its life strategy, it is an independent organism rather than a parasite, and it does not function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phlorisodendron leucocarpum is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework primarily driven by a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this metabolic process, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide is mediated by the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), which catalyzes the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate to form two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate. This pathway dictates the plant's reliance on standard Calvin cycle mechanisms for glucose synthesis, influencing its transpiration rates and water-use efficiency in varying environmental conditions. The reliance on the C3 pathway means that the plant's photosynthetic efficiency is highly sensitive to photorespiration, particularly under conditions of high temperature or limited CO2 availability, which governs its overall energy acquisition and growth dynamics.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phloranthemum leucarpum is characterized by the production of a drupe, which serves as the primary fruit type for the species. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their seeds. On average, the fruit maintains a width of approximately 0.67 cm. The dispersal of the seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the movement of the fruit away from the parent plant.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.67 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phoradendron leucarpum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology

Leaf

1. Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology

Chemicals

Phoradendron leucarpum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, FAT, Phoratoxin, beta-phenylethylamine, tyramine.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Phoratoxin

1. Dr. Duke

beta-phenylethylamine

1. Dr. Duke

tyramine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Phoradendron leucarpum has 27 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Adrenergic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, Antiaggregant, Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive.

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke

Antimicrobial

1. Natural product communications

Antiobesity

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiulcer

1. Dr. Duke

Beta-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Phoradendron leucarpum has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR