Arceuthobium minutissimum, known as the Indian dwarf mistletoe[2] or Himalayan dwarf mistletoe, is a leafless parasitic plant of Pinus wallichiana. It is considered the smallest known dicotyledonous plant.[3]
| Arceuthobium minutissimum | |
|---|---|
| |
| A. minutissimum photographed on Pinus wallichiana in Bhutan | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Santalaceae |
| Genus: | Arceuthobium |
| Species: | A. minutissimum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Arceuthobium minutissimum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Razoumowskia minutissima Tubeuf | |
Description
editIndividual shoots grow to a height of 5 millimeters, and up to 1 centimeter with mature fruit. Shoots emerge from both the cortex and needles of the host plant. Flowers are monoecious, and seed dispersal occurs in September.[4]
Distribution and host species
editThe species occurs in dry forests of the Himalayan mountains at an approximate altitude of 2500–3500 meters.[4][5] It has been reported in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Pakistan. A. minutissimum infects the crowns of trees of all ages. It severely impacts the health of host-trees, and causes the loss of needles.[6] Although P. wallichiana is the primary host, it has been recorded to infect Pinus gerardiana in Pakistan. Unconfirmed reports show that it may also infect Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodara.[4]
It has been considered that there is potential for A. minutissimum to become an invasive species in Europe.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Arceuthobium minutissimum Hook.fil". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ Bhandari, N. N.; Nanda, Kanan (1 June 1970). "The Endophytic System of Arceuthobium minutissimum, the Indian Dwarf Mistletoe". Annals of Botany. 34 (3): 517–525. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a084387. ISSN 0305-7364. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ Datta, R. M. (February 1951). "Occurrence of a Hermaphrodite Flower in Arceuthobium minutissimum Hook. f., the Smallest Known Dicotyledonous Plant". Nature. 167 (4240): 203–204. Bibcode:1951Natur.167..203D. doi:10.1038/167203a0. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 14806428. S2CID 4181798. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Hawksworth, Frank G.; Wiens, Delbert (April 1998). Dwarf Mistletoes. DIANE Publishing. pp. 264–265. ISBN 978-0-7881-4201-7. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ "Arceuthobium minutissimum (Himalayan dwarf mistletoe)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ a b Vannini, A.; Cecca, D.; Monaci, L.; Anselmi, N. (September 1995). "Main tree pathogens of western Himalayan forests in Nepal: description and risk of introduction". EPPO Bulletin. 25 (3): 455–461. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2338.1995.tb00579.x. ISSN 0250-8052. Retrieved 16 April 2022.