Arceuthobium minutissimum

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 Hook.f.
Synonyms [1]
Razoumowskia minutissima Tubeuf

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]

Description

Individual 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

The 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

• Smallest organisms

References

1. "Arceuthobium minutissimum Hook.fil". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Hawksworth, Frank G.; Wiens, Delbert (April 1998). Dwarf Mistletoes. DIANE Publishing. pp. 264–265. ISBN   978-0-7881-4201-7 . Retrieved 16 April 2022.
5. "Arceuthobium minutissimum (Himalayan dwarf mistletoe)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
6. 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.