Notes on the Cretan mistletoe, Viscum album subsp. creticum subsp. nova (Loranthaceae/Viscaceae)

Abstract

Viscum album subsp. creticum, known from two mountain areas of E. Crete, is described as new to science. It combines features of the two presently accepted conifer mistletoes, resembling the fir parasite, subsp. abietis, in gross morphology but genetically (by nrDNA ITS sequence data) close to the pine parasite, subsp. austriacum, while differing from either in hypocotyl shape and nucleotide sequences of cpDNA. Its host is Pinus halepensis subsp. brutia, a taxon not normally affected by mistletoes. It is thus likely that the new subspecies has its own, particular host tree. Hypotheses of the Cretan mistletoe's history and endemic status are discussed on the background of documented size fluctuations of Cretan pine forests and their propensity to burning.