Diversity of mistletoes and their distribution in Dramaga Campus, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Mistletoes are flowering plants in the Santalales order that parasitize the branches of trees and shrubs. The objective of this research was to reveal the diversity of mistletoe species and record their distribution within this study site. The study site was Dramaga Campus (240 ha), which consisted of a mosaic of tree plantation, experimental fields, buildings, and a housing complex. Field research was conducted in February-March 2021 by censusing all mistletoes, their distribution, and plant species parasitized by the mistletoes. There were 351 individual mistletoes found, consisted of 5 species: Dendrophthtoepentandra (55.2%), Viscum ovalifolium (32.3%), Scurrula atropurpurea (9.1%), Macrosolen chochinchinensis (2.8%), and Viscum articulatum (0.6%). These mistletoes were found mostly on branches or twigs (99.1%) and few on trunks (0.9%) of 49 tree species (25 families) having an average height of 14.9±4.2m, and diameter 34.11± 22.22cm. Tree species frequently parasitized were Falcataria moluccana (32.8%), followed by Samanea saman (12.5%), and Averrhoa carambola (7.7%). Most mistletoes were found in the open area (99.1%), including on trees between/among buildings and along roads/streets, mainly on the south and southeast part of the campus. The mistletoe attacked in this research location was included in the low category (79.4%).