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

Summary

Genus:

Phoradendron

Family:

Viscaceae

Nomen number:

400661

Place of publication:

Taxon 38:107. 1989

Comment:

not homonym of Phoradendron leucocarpum Pacz. (1911)
a proposal for rejection (nom. rej.) of the basionym Viscum leucarpum Raf. against the heterotypic synonym (Shenzhen ICN Art. 14.4) V. serotinum Raf. has failed

Verified:

02/27/2019 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

1 (0 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Viscum leucarpum Raf.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Phoradendron serotinum (Raf.) M. C. Johnst.
Phoradendron tomentosum (DC.) A. Gray
Phoradendron villosum (Nutt.) Engelm.
Viscum serotinum Raf.
Viscum tomentosum DC.
Viscum villosum Nutt.

Invalid Designation(s)
Phoradendron flavescens auct.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Abbott, J. R. & R. L. Thompson. 2011. New combinations in Phoradendron leucarcum (Viscaceae). J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 5:139-141.
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Applequist, W. L. 2012. Report of the Committee for Spermatophyta: 64. Taxon 61:1110. Note: proposal not recommended
Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California Note: = Phoradendron villosum
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:1-643. Note: = Phoradendron serotinum var. serotinum
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada Note: = Phoradendron serotinum
Mabberley, D. J. 2008. Mabberley's plant-book: a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses, ed. 3 658. Note: re. Christmas ornamental
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Note: = Phoradendron tomentosum
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Musselman, L. J. 1996. Parasitic weeds in the Southern United States. Castanea 61:271-292.
Nickrent, D. L. et al. 2010. (1986) Proposal to conserve the name Viscum serotinum (Phoradendron serotinum) against V. leucarpum (Viscaceae). Taxon 59:1903-1904.
Ogawa, J. M. et al., eds. 1995. Compendium of stone fruit diseases. In: American Phytopathological Society, The disease compendium series. 47. Note: = Phoradendron serotinum (Raf.) M. C. Johnst.
Peck, M. 1941. A manual of the higher plants of Oregon. Note: = Phoradendron villosum
Reveal, J. L. & M. C. Johnston. 1989. A new combination in Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Taxon 38:107-108.
Wiens, D. 1964. Revision of the acataphyllous species of Phoradendron. Brittonia 16:35-37. Note: = Phoradendron serotinum (Raf.) M. C. Johnst.
Wilson, K. L. 2016. Report of the General Committee: 13. Taxon 65:381. Note: proposal not recommended
2018. Oklahoma vascular plant database

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	American mistletoe	as Phoradendron serotinum	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada Note: = Phoradendron serotinum
English	eastern mistletoe		1	Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
English	hairy mistletoe	as Phoradendron tomentosum	1	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Note: = Phoradendron tomentosum
English	oak mistletoe	as Phoradendron villosum	1	Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California Note: = Phoradendron villosum
English	Pacific mistletoe	as Phoradendron villosum	1	McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
English	western mistletoe	as Phoradendron villosum	1	Peck, M. 1941. A manual of the higher plants of Oregon. Note: = Phoradendron villosum

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Baja		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sinaloa		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sonora		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Zacatecas		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Oregon		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Delaware		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Aguascalientes		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guanajuato		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	California		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Nevada		Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.
2	Cultivated					also cult.

Native
Northern America

NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Oregon]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, California, Nevada]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Baja, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán de Ocampo, Querétaro]

Cultivated (also cult.)

Reference(s)

Kuijt, J. 2003. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 66:411.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental	Christmas decorations	Mabberley, D. J. 2008. Mabberley's plant-book: a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses, ed. 3 658. Note: re. Christmas ornamental
Medicines	folklore		Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Social	religious/secular	kissing may occur under this plant around the December holidays	Mabberley, D. J. 2008. Mabberley's plant-book: a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses, ed. 3 658. Note: re. Christmas ornamental
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Phoradendron flavescens	Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. 385. Note: poisonous as Phoradendron flavescens
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Phoradendron tomentosum	Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
Weed	parasite		Musselman, L. J. 1996. Parasitic weeds in the Southern United States. Castanea 61:271-292.
Weed	parasite	as Phoradendron tomentosum	Ogawa, J. M. et al., eds. 1995. Compendium of stone fruit diseases. In: American Phytopathological Society, The disease compendium series. 47. Note: = Phoradendron serotinum (Raf.) M. C. Johnst.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=400661. Accessed 15 April 2026.