Скачать или смотреть Parasitic Plant of the Desert, Mesquite Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum)

The parasitic Mesquite Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) 🌿

I almost couldn’t believe my eyes! I spotted this green growth full of red fruit coming from the bases of these mostly defoliated leguminous shrubs. But the fruit was not a legume! Once I identified it I confirmed my suspicions that this was a hemiparasitic plant. It grows from living plants taking their reserves to grow but also photosynthesizes on its own so that it’s not completely reliant on its host. Traditionally the fruits can be eaten but only if it’s growing from a safe plant as the fruit will take in the constituents of its host. I took a taste and it was very bitter but I spit it out as most legumes are toxic. Very cool to think that this plant can be a poison or a medicine depending on what dosage and what host it’s growing from.



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