This time of year American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) sometimes comes to mind. It is often seen around here, in a Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) in our tiny town, or up here in the mountains in our native trees. Many places. There’s another one that I’m familiar with.

This one a Juniper Mistletoe (Phoradendron juniperinum) found at Zion National Park in Utah. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. And like American Mistletoe it is a parasite, living on their host plants taking water and nutrients from them to survive.

And there are oodles of species (1300) known worldwide.

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