Even the family has several synonyms . Phoradendron has a wide geographic distribution and is found in the US from New Jersey to Florida to Texas. It has a broad host range and parasitizes mostly hardwoods . The flower structure is reduced and primitive in appearance. It uses an endophytic system to penetrate through the cambial region of its host.
Birds eat the fruit, dispersing the seeds to other tree limbs.
A sticky viscin layer on the seed allows it to adhere to the branch. The seed germinates and develops an adhesive disk. Shoots are usually visible the second year. Once the endophytic system becomes established, the plant grows quickly. Since the leaves stay green all year, once leaf fall takes place, it is easy to spot balls of mistletoe high up in hardwoods.