Arceuthobium microcarpum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arceuthobium microcarpum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Santalales
Family:	Santalaceae
Genus:	Arceuthobium
Species:	A. microcarpum
Binomial name
Arceuthobium microcarpum (Engelm.) Hawksw. & Wiens
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Synonyms
Arceuthobium douglasii var. microcarpum Engelm. in Rothr. Arceuthobium campylopodum subsp. microcarpum (Engelm.) Nickrent Razoumofskya microcarpa (Engelm.) Wooton & Standl.

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The western spruce dwarf mistletoe (scientific name: Arceuthobium microcarpum) is a very special kind of plant. It's a parasitic plant, which means it lives on other plants and gets its food from them. This tiny plant is only found in two places: Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.

Western Spruce Dwarf Mistletoe: A Tiny Tree Guest

The western spruce dwarf mistletoe is a small plant that grows on trees. It is known for being a parasite. This means it attaches itself to a larger plant, called a host, and takes water and nutrients from it. It does not grow its own roots in the soil.

What is a Parasitic Plant?

A parasitic plant, like the western spruce dwarf mistletoe, is a plant that grows on another living plant. It uses the host plant to get water and nutrients. Think of it like a guest that stays at a friend's house and shares their food! The mistletoe attaches itself to a tree and takes what it needs to grow.

Where Does It Live?

This dwarf mistletoe loves to live on spruce trees. These are tall, cone-shaped trees often found in forests. Sometimes, it can also be found on a special type of pine tree called the Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine. These trees are known for living a very long time! The mistletoe is only found in the states of Arizona and New Mexico. It grows in the forests of these areas.

Its Tiny Berries

The scientific name for this plant is Arceuthobium microcarpum. The word "microcarpum" means "small fruited." This is because the plant produces very tiny berries. These berries are only about 3.5 millimeters long. That's about the size of a small bead!