''Misodendrum punctulatum'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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 parasitic plants develop a specialized organ called the ...

which grows as a

mistletoe Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant. ...

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 in southern South America (Chile, Argentina) and Australasia (east and southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Gui ...

'', 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 relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

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 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, also referred to a ...

, a growth pattern in which the apical

meristem The meristem is a type of tissue found in plants. It consists of undifferentiated cells (meristematic cells) capable of cell division. Cells in the meristem can develop into all the other tissues and organs that occur in plants. These cells conti ...

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 dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not ope ...

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 () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and gl ...

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 process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored in c ...

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 South America