''Misodendrum punctulatum'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

parasitic plant A parasitic plant is a plant that derives some or all of its nutritional requirements from another living plant. They make up about 1% of angiosperms and are found in almost every biome. All Parasite, parasitic plants develop a specialized organ ...

which grows as a

mistletoe Mistletoe is the common name for obligate parasite, obligate parasitic plant, hemiparasitic plants in the Order (biology), order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they ...

on various species of ''

Nothofagus ''Nothofagus'', also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 43 species of trees and shrubs native to the Southern Hemisphere, found across southern South America (Chile, Argentina) and east and southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Guin ...

'', especially on deciduous species like '' N. antarctica'' and '' N. pumilio'', but also on the evergreen '' N. dombeyi'' and '' N. betuloides''. It is native to humid forests in the southern part of

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

where it grows on trees on south-facing slopes and in shady locations.

Description

''Misodendrum punctulatum'' grows into a small, much-branched bush some high. Growth is

sympodial In botany, sympodial growth is a bifurcating branching pattern where one branch develops more strongly than the other, resulting in the stronger branches forming the primary shoot and the weaker branches appearing laterally. A sympodium, als ...

, a growth pattern in which the apical

meristem In cell biology, the meristem is a structure composed of specialized tissue found in plants, consisting of stem cells, known as meristematic cells, which are undifferentiated cells capable of continuous cellular division. These meristematic c ...

terminates and growth continues by lateral meristems. The leaves are scales with reduced photosynthetic activity. Small flowers are produced in spring in the axils of the leaves on second-year growth. These are followed by small

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple fruit, simple dry fruits, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and Dehi ...

s with hairy bristles. These are dispersed by wind and become entangled on tree branches by their bristles. Mistletoes in this genus, '' Misodendrum'', are the only wind-dispersed hemiparasites.

Distribution and habitat

''Misodendrum punctulatum'' is native to the southern half of Chile and the foothills of the

Patagonia Patagonia () is a geographical region that includes parts of Argentina and Chile at the southern end of South America. The region includes the southern section of the Andes mountain chain with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and glaciers ...

n Andes in southern Argentina, growing at altitudes of up to about . At medium altitudes it occurs below the treeline and at low altitudes it is present in valleys. It prefers south-facing slopes both in shade and in deep shade. It requires humid conditions with abundant rainfall and dry periods that last no longer than a month.

Ecology

''Misodendrum punctulatum'' grows as a hemiparasite; it is partially

photosynthetic Photosynthesis ( ) is a Biological system, system of biological processes by which Photoautotrophism, photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical ener ...

but also obtains part of its nutritional needs from its host. It infects southern beech trees, including the deciduous ''N. pumilio'' and ''N. antarctica'', and the evergreen ''N. dombeyi'' and ''N. betuloides''. It disperses to new trees by means of its wind-borne seeds, the bristles on which adhere to small branches of suitable host trees. These branches are usually less than four years old, suggesting that the germinating seedling is unable to cope with penetrating thicker bark. There is an incubation period lasting several years during which the new mistletoe plant obtains its nourishment from the host tree. After that aerial shoots develop.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3316343 Santalales Flora of Southern America