Misodendrum punctulatum Sol. ex G.Forst.

Nomenclature and Growth Form

Misodendrum punctulatum Sol. ex G.Forst. grows as a small, highly branched bush reaching around 25 cm (10 inches) in height.

Growth Pattern

It has a sympodial growth pattern, meaning the apical meristem stops growing, and new growth continues from lateral meristems.

Leaf Characteristics

Its leaves are scale-like, with reduced photosynthetic activity.

Flowering Traits

Small flowers grow in spring, in the leaf axils of growth from the second year.

Fruit Characteristics

After flowering, the plant produces small achenes that have hairy bristles.

Achene Dispersal

These achenes are dispersed by wind, and their bristles become caught on tree branches.

Genus Dispersal Trait

Mistletoes in the genus Misodendrum are the only hemiparasites that are wind-dispersed.

Native Distribution and Altitude Range

Misodendrum punctulatum is native to the southern half of Chile and the foothills of the Patagonian Andes in southern Argentina, growing at altitudes up to approximately 2,000 m (6,562 ft).

Habitat by Altitude

At medium altitudes, it grows below the treeline, and at low altitudes it occurs in valleys.

Slope and Light Preference

It favors south-facing slopes in both light shade and deep shade.

Moisture Requirements

It needs humid conditions with abundant rainfall, and can only tolerate dry periods that last no more than one month.

Hemiparasitic Nature

Misodendrum punctulatum is a hemiparasite: it is partially photosynthetic, but also gets part of its required nutrients from a host plant.

Host Tree Species

It infects southern beech trees, including the deciduous species Nothofagus pumilio and Nothofagus antarctica, and the evergreen species Nothofagus dombeyi and Nothofagus betuloides.

Host Colonization Mechanism

It spreads to new host trees via its wind-carried seeds; the bristles on the seeds stick to small branches of suitable host trees.

Host Branch Age Preference

These host branches are usually less than four years old, which suggests germinating seedlings cannot penetrate thicker bark.

Post-Attachment Incubation Period

After a seed attaches to a host, there is an incubation period of several years, during which the new mistletoe plant gets all its nourishment from the host.

Aerial Shoot Development

Aerial shoots only develop after this incubation period ends.