Desert Mistletoe...murder/suicide!!

The Desert Mistletoe is a leafless plant with a dense cluster of jointed stems. They are partial parasites, which have chlorophyll and can undergo photosynthesis, but take water and nutrients from the host plant. The plant relies mainly on leguminous trees and shrubs such as paloverde, mesquite, ironwood, and acacia. You can usually spot mistletoe as a dense, green cluster in the branches of these plants. Over time, it may kill the host plant by invading the bark and sap with its roots. Once the host plant is killed by the mistletoe, then the mistletoe itself will die, hence, murder/suicide! The photo below was taken today on our San Andreas Fault Tour!

Posted by Mark Farley at 3/1/2010 3:43 PM
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Joshua Tree National Park Hummer Adventures Palm Springs Tours Elite Land Tours Coachella Valley Palm Springs Attractions Yucca Valley
 

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