Bigleaf Mistletoe (Phoradendron racemosum)
Description
Rather large plants often drying blackish, dichotomous by abortion; internodes quadrangular above, rather long (often 10-12 cm or more), with 1 or 2 pairs of basal cataphylls 0.5-1 cm above axil, where stem tends to be terete; nodes becoming swollen. Petiole 0.5-1 cm long; blade elliptical to ovate or broadly lanceolate, mostly to 12 x 8 cm, apex blunt to acute, base abruptly tapering into petiole. Monoecious. Inflorescences first paired, later clustered at nodes, mostly to 3 cm long, with 1 very low pair of cataphylls ca. 0.2 cm above base, rest of peduncle ca. 0.3 cm long, followed by 3 fertile internodes each with 3-9 flowers per bract in 2-seriate pattern, terminal 1-3 flowers of each flower area apparently male, others female. Fruit oblong, 0.25 x 0.15 cm, perianth segments small, closed.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Santalales
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Family: Santalaceae
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Genus: Phoradendron
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