Phoradendron leucarpum (Raf.) Reveal & M.C. Johnst.

American mistletoe

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Subshrub, Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

10

This species is an epiphytic parasite. According to Hollick and Britton (1879) in the Flora of Richmond County, New York this species (as Phoradendron flavescens), is "said to have grown in a swamp near Clifton, but [has] not recently [been] found." Later, Britton (1884) states that, "in 1879, while preparing the Flora of Richmond Co., N.Y., with Mr. Arthur Hollick, we were credibly informed that, only a few years before, the mistletoe was growing on sour gums near Clifton, and a note was made to that effect; since then I have been shown a locality in that neighborhood by Mr. R.S. Newbury, of New York, where he had seen the plant in former years. The Nyssa was there - several very old, decaying trees - but no Phoradendron." According to House (1924), "there seem to be no herbarium specimens in existence as a record of its former occurrence on Staten Island." Mitchell and Tucker (1997) report this species from New York noting that, "several early reports indicate that mistletoe was native on Staten Island, where it was gathered for holiday decorations before its apparent extirpation in the late 19th century." Based on the reports mentioned above we consider this species to have been native in Richmond County and currently consider it extirpated from New York.

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Native SX (State Rank) G5 (Global Rank)

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