Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Santalaceae

Genus:

Arceuthobium

Species:

Arceuthobium pini

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Parasite

Height:

10 cm

Bloom Months:

aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

yellow, orange

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Notes:

As an obligate parasite on fire-adapted pines, it persists where host trees survive fire but is eliminated where host mortality is high.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds require contact with host pine bark tissue for germination and establishment. Explosive seed dispersal mechanism propels sticky seeds to nearby host branches.

Source: Claude claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929 Batch