Type/Examples |
Common Hosts |
Control |
Parasite:
Mistletoe Phoradendron serotinum (formerly, Phoradendron flavescens) |
Pecans Carya illinoensis
Oaks Quercus spp.
Hickories Carya spp.
Other hardwoods |
If control is desired or considered expedient prune infected branches at least one foot below points of mistletoe attachment |
PHOTO: Typical, globose plants of mistletoes, a parasite, as seen in hardwood trees during the winter months.
|
Root Parasites:
Senna Seymeria Seymeria cassioides |
Pines Pinus spp.
|
Prescribed or controlled burns may be helpful in severely infected, young pine plantations. Fires should be timed after spring seed germination, but before flowers appear.
|
| Squawroot or Cancer Root Conopholis americana |
Red oaks Quercus spp. |
No practical control. |
| Beechdrops Epifagus virginiana |
American Beech Fagus grandifolia |
No practical control. |
PHOTO: Yellow-flowered senna seymeria, a root parasite, growing near the base of a young slash pine. This plant is attached to and draws water and nutrients from the roots of the pine.
|
Epiphytes:
Resurrection Fern- Polypodium polypodiodes
Bromeliads-
Spanish Moss Tillandsia usneoides
Ball Moss Tillandsia recurvata
Cardinal Air Plant Tillandsia fasciculata
Lichens-
"Fruticose" or Branched or Bush-like Usnea spp. "Foloise" or Leaf-like Parmelia spp.
"Crustose" or Crust-like Pyrenula spp. |
Most trees. Often less common on pines due to the flaking or shedding nature of pine bark. |
Control unnecessary in most situations. If desired, mechanically remove plants by hand or with a hooked pole. Cooper sprays such as Bordeaux mixture provide some control of bromeliads and lichens.
|
Lichens growing on the bark of a silver maple. |
Ressurection fern, another epiphyte, often provides its own particular beauty when abundant on the branches of live oak. |
Live oak branches adorned with the very prevalent epiphyte, spanish moss. |
Ball moss, another epiphyte, and a close relative of spanish moss, as seen in the crown of a young live oak. |
|
Climbers:
Grapevines Vitis spp.
Kuduz Pueraria lobata
Wisteria Wisteria sinensis
Greenbriars Smilax spp.
Poison-ivy Rhus radicans
Viriginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Trumpet creeper Campsis radicans
Carolina jessamine Gelsimium sempervirens
Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica
Crossvine Bignonia capreolata |
Most trees.
Climbers are not host specific |
Do not allow climbers to develop in highly valued ornamentals.
Mechanically remove young vines taking care to pull roots where practical to prevent regrowth. Cut older established climbers near the ground and pull from trees following death and deterioration of the vines. |
 Kudzu, a climber, is particularly aggressive. It can seriously harm trees when allowed to grow unchecked.
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