Arceuthobium is a genus of parasitic plants in the sandalwood family commonly known as dwarf mistletoes. Most species of Arceuthobium specialize on a small number of conifer species, on which they grow and from which they derive water and nutrients; host preference has been considered taxonomically important by most botanists.
The taxonomy of this genus is difficult to resolve. As with many other parasites, Arceuthobium plants have reduced morphological features (for example, minute, scale-like leaves) that make taxa difficult to distinguish morphologically. [1] Phylogenetic studies have also revealed little genetic differentiation between species in several of the taxonomic sections, including Globosa, Rubra, Vaginata, and Campylopoda, indicating that species boundaries in these groups may still be forming. [2] Nevertheless, some monophyletic clades have been identified even in these sections. [3] Ultimately, modern treatments of the genus vary widely, including as many as 38 species [4] or as few as 26 species, [2] with Campylopoda in particular comprising between one [5] and thirteen [4] species.This list summarizes the taxa currently recognized by Plants of the World Online, organized using the subgenera and sections from Nickrent et al. (2004). [2] [6] The taxonomy of the New World species (subgenus Vaginata) largely follows Kenaley and Mathiasen (2025). [4]
This section has the broadest range of host species, parasitizing 20 species of Pinus . [2]