There are 21 species of Dwarf Mistletoe that live in North America.
They suck the life out of our conifer forests. The bulk of the plants live under the bark of their host … just like an iceberg, you only see the tip.
They suck water from their host. They suck food from their host. They’re not a blood-sucking parasite, but that’s how they affect their plant host. They are “natural,” but they degrade your forests and should be killed when found.
Shot on the Sunset Trail, Kings Canyon National Park.
This tree is in trouble, and has multiple outbreaks of Dwarf mistletoe.
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