Korean mistletoe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Korean mistletoe

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Viscum coloratum var. alni-formosanae
• Viscum album var. rubroaurantiacum
• Viscum album f. rubroaurantiacum
• Viscum album subsp. coloratum
• Viscum album f. lutescens
• Viscum album var. lutescens
• Viscum alni-formosanae
• Viscum coloratum var. rubroaurantiacum
• Viscum coloratum var. lutescens
• Viscum coloratum f. rubroaurantiacum
• Viscum coloratum f. lutescens
• Viscum album var. coloratum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Viscum coloratum, 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. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Viscum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning several key regions in East Asia. In the Russian Far East, it can be found across the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye territories. Its range also extends significantly into China, where it is documented in the South-Central regions. Additionally, the species is present in the northern reaches of China within Inner Mongolia. Together, these areas define the specific environmental niches where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Viscum coloratum is characterized by a specific altitudinal distribution within its habitat, where it thrives across a diverse vertical gradient. It is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 1400 m AMSL. On average, the species occupies middle-altitude niches, with a mean elevation of approximately 950 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to the specific climatic and environmental conditions present within these varying mountain ranges.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Viscum coloratum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a hemiparasitic plant, its life cycle is intrinsically linked to its host trees, from which it derives water and essential mineral nutrients while maintaining the ability to perform photosynthesis through its own chlorophyll. The cycle begins when seeds, typically dispersed by birds via sticky berries, adhere to the branches of a suitable host. Once germinated, the plant establishes a connection with the host's vascular system to ensure long-term survival. Because it is perennial, it does not rely on a single season of growth to complete its reproductive cycle, but instead develops a robust, woody structure that can support repeated flowering and fruiting events over many years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Viscum coloratum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a shrub. The plant typically functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber. In terms of physical stature, it exhibits a relatively low profile, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.55 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.55 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Viscum coloratum is characterized by distinct morphological dimensions of its foliage, which serve as key indicators of its vegetative development. The leaves exhibit a notable range in size, with a mean length of 5 cm, though they can vary from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a consistent narrowness, maintaining a mean width of 1.1 cm, with individual measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. These specific measurements in leaf length and width reflect the plant's structural adaptation and resource allocation patterns during its growth cycles.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Viscum coloratum involves the development of specialized fruit structures that vary in dimension. The fruit exhibits a relatively consistent morphology, characterized by a mean length of 0.7 cm and a mean width of 0.7 cm. In terms of size variability, the fruit dimensions range from a minimum of 0.6 cm in both length and width to a maximum of 0.8 cm in both length and width. This specific range of fruit size, maintaining a near-spherical or slightly elongated shape within these measured parameters, plays a critical role in the plant's reproductive cycle and dispersal mechanisms.

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Viscum coloratum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include VCA, H2O2, Lectin, Polysaccharide, Syringin.

VCA

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

H2O2

1. Life sciences

Lectin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Polysaccharide

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Syringin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Activities

Viscum coloratum has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.

Anticancer

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Conditions

Viscum coloratum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, rheumatism, tumors.

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rheumatism

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tumors

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Preparations

Viscum coloratum has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Visci Herba (VH), extract of Korean mistletoe, hot water, lectin II, total alkaloid.

Visci herba (vh)

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Extract of korean mistletoe

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology

Hot water

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Lectin ii

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology

Total alkaloid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica