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Arceuthobium minutissimum

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Species of dwarf mistletoe

Arceuthobium minutissimum
A. minutissimum photographed on Pinus wallichiana in Bhutan
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Santalaceae
Genus: Arceuthobium
Species: A. minutissimum
Binomial name
Arceuthobium minutissimum
Hook.f.
Synonyms

Razoumowskia minutissima Tubeuf

Arceuthobium minutissimum, known as the Indian dwarf mistletoe or Himalayan dwarf mistletoe, is a leafless parasitic plant of Pinus wallichiana. It is considered the smallest known dicotyledonous plant.

Description

Individual shoots grow to a height of 5 millimeters, and up to 1 centimeter with mature fruit. Shoots emerge from both the cortex and needles of the host plant. Flowers are monoecious, and seed dispersal occurs in September.

Distribution and host species

The species occurs in dry forests of the Himalayan mountains at an approximate altitude of 2500–3500 meters. It has been reported in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Pakistan. A. minutissimum infects the crowns of trees of all ages. It severely impacts the health of host-trees, and causes the loss of needles. Although P. wallichiana is the primary host, it has been recorded to infect Pinus gerardiana in Pakistan. Unconfirmed reports show that it may also infect Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodara.

It has been considered that there is potential for A. minutissimum to become an invasive species in Europe.

See also

References

  1. "Arceuthobium minutissimum Hook.fil". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. Bhandari, N. N.; Nanda, Kanan (1 June 1970). "The Endophytic System of Arceuthobium minutissimum, the Indian Dwarf Mistletoe". Annals of Botany. 34 (3): 517–525. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a084387. ISSN 0305-7364. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. Datta, R. M. (February 1951). "Occurrence of a Hermaphrodite Flower in Arceuthobium minutissimum Hook. f., the Smallest Known Dicotyledonous Plant". Nature. 167 (4240): 203–204. Bibcode:1951Natur.167..203D. doi:10.1038/167203a0. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 14806428. S2CID 4181798. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. ^ Hawksworth, Frank G.; Wiens, Delbert (April 1998). Dwarf Mistletoes. DIANE Publishing. pp. 264–265. ISBN 978-0-7881-4201-7. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. "Arceuthobium minutissimum (Himalayan dwarf mistletoe)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. ^ Vannini, A.; Cecca, D.; Monaci, L.; Anselmi, N. (September 1995). "Main tree pathogens of western Himalayan forests in Nepal: description and risk of introduction". EPPO Bulletin. 25 (3): 455–461. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2338.1995.tb00579.x. ISSN 0250-8052. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
Taxon identifiers
Arceuthobium minutissimum
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