Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Santalaceae

Genus:

Arceuthobium

Species:

Arceuthobium laricis

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Parasite

Height:

10 cm

Bloom Months:

aug,sep

Bloom Colors:

yellow, orange

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Fire Notes:

As an obligate parasite on western larch, survival depends on host tree survival. Western larch is fire-adapted with thick bark, but severe fires can kill infected branches.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds are explosively discharged from fruit and stick to host bark. Germination occurs on host tree bark only, requiring contact with larch branches.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI