Phoradendron racemosum

Phoradendron racemosum (Aubl.) Krug & Urb.

Common Names: Big Man, Broad Leaved Mistletoe

Family: Santalaceae

Habit: Phoradendron racemosum grows as a parasite on other trees and shrubs with round stems.  The leaves are arranged oppositely, to 9 cm in length, ovate to elliptic to lanceolate, with an obtuse to retuse  leaf apex. The petioles are winged.

Phoradendron racemosum is monoecious. The highly reduced, incomplete, imperfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in jointed spikes. The flowers partially embedded in the rachis. In staminate flowers there are 3 tepals, 3 stamens and no carpel.  In carpellate flowers there are 3 tepals, no stamens, and 1 inferior ovary and 1 ovule. The fruit is a white drupe at maturity.

Habitat: Phoradendron racemosum grows on Damburneya coriacea.

Distribution: Phoradendron racemosum occurs on Andros Island, The Greater Antilles as well as parts of northern South America.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Phoradendron racemosum is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago but other species have been used medicinally.