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First Report of Arceuthobium hondurense on Pinus tecunumannii

Honduran dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium hondurense Hawksw. & Wiens) is a rare dwarf mistletoe found only in Honduras (1,2). Thus far, it has been reported to parasitize only Pinus oocarpa Schiede (2). In October 1999, we observed infection by A. hondurense on P. tecunumannii (Schw.) Eguiluz et Perry along the trail to the summit of Montana del Celaque (elevation 1,750 to 1,800 m) on the east side of Celaque National Park, ≈5 km west of Gracias (Department Lempira), Honduras. Infected pines had witches′ brooms, and mistletoe shoot production was common on infected branches. This is the first report of A. hondurense on P. tecunumannii. Specimens of A. hondurense from P. tecunumannii were collected and have been deposited at the Herbario, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales, Siguatepeque, Honduras, and at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.

References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. 1996. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. U.S. Dep. Agric. Agric. Handb. 709. (2) R. Mathiasen et al. Phytologia 36:211, 1998.