western dwarf mistletoe ~ 06/09/11 ~ Pinnacles

western dwarf mistletoe on gray pine
Arceuthobium campylopodum on Pinus sabiniana
Santalaceae (formerly Viscaceae) and Pinaceae

The Pinnacles plant list shows foothill pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium occidentale), which appears to have been reclassified into A. campylopodum. I still find it amazing this is a mistletoe, primarily because I think of some of the wider-leaved Phoradendron spp. used for Christmas decorations.

dwarf mistletoe on Monterey pine ~ 02/11/11 ~ Jacks Peak

western dwarf mistletoe on Monterey pine
Arceuthobium campylopodum on Pinus radiata
CNPS 8th Edition Inventory
Santalaceae (formerly Viscaceae) and Pinaceae

When I saw this I thought it was some kind of insect gall based on the swollen twig area. I figured once I got home, I'd easily be able to search Monterey pine galls and get my answer. However before I even got around to doing that and while I was looking up other plants for Jacks Peak, I noticed a picture that looked very similar to what I saw here. It's a mistletoe! Who knew mistletoes also created gall structures? See and learn something new every day, if I just bother to look.