----- Original Message -----
From: P van Rijckevorsel
To: Iris Cohen
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 10:51 AM
Subject: Mistletoe

Yes, a full parasite would ideally derive everything it needs from its
host. Of course there are a number of plants that used to be called
parasites and are now called myco-heterotrophs.

Also there are parasites, the Santalaceae come to mind, that will develop
their own leaves and do a pretty good job of making their own sugars, but
that when young will take part of their carbon compounds from hosts

I guess a plant is a full parasite if it derives the full spectrum of its
needs from a host, even if in each category it gets only part of what it
needs and gets a part itself. Of course it must not give anything
substantial in return.

European mistletoe gets only its water (and minerals) from its host and
thus is a hemi-parasite.
PvR

==================
European mistletoe is not a parasite It is a hemiparasite. Big
difference

From: (Iris Cohen)
Please clarify. I understand Phoradendron is not considered a full
parasite because it has leaves with chlorophyll. Somebody in another
newsgroup called it a water parasite. There is another genus of mistletoe
which I guess you would call a full parasite because it sends roots into the
wood & weakens the tree. Is this what you meant?

Sean Houtman schreef
Arceuthobium isn't always green, and can kill trees.

Sean