Mistletoe species in the Southeast U.S.

Question:
I read an article about mistletoe and I am doing a project for Organismal Biology and I was wondering if you could tell me where/how I can find out how many species and what species of mistletoe are located here in Auburn Alabama?

Answer:

That question is so simple I think I will let my driver answer it (just kidding). Here is the answer I got from Curtis J. Hansen, Curator Freeman Herbarium, Auburn University:

Yes, I'd be glad to answer that! There is primarily only one species of mistletoe that dominates the eastern United States and grows from New York to Florida and west to Arizona-- that is Oak Mistletoe, or scientifically speaking, Phoradendron leucarpum. There is only one other species in the southeastern US (east of Texas) called Mahogany Mistletoe that is found very rarely in Florida. The center of distribution (where the most diverse number of species are found) for mistletoe is western North America, from Canada in the north and down into the western US extending east to Texas. There are about 34 different species of mistletoe (from three different genera) found in the western US and Canada. In addition, there are 6 endemic (found only in a particular area) mistletoes found in Hawaii. Mistletoe species in the genus Arceuthobium, commonly called Dwarf Mistletoes, are pests and cause tremendous losses and reduced productivity in the timber industry in the western US.
All mistletoes are parasitic, meaning they grow their root systems into a host tree and "steal" nutrients for growth. However, they are also green, so they can produce some of their own nutrients through photosynthesis. While most mistletoes don't outright kill their tree-host, they can weaken them over time and ultimately be the cause of tree death. The genus found in our area, Phoradendron, means "tree thief" in Greek--an appropriate name for a parasitic plant.
As far as locating mistletoe in Auburn goes, it's pretty easy. All one has to do is go out side and scan the surrounding hardwood trees and you'll find clumps of greenish-looking "bushes" among tree branches. That's mistletoe. As the name indicates, Oak mistletoe is found mostly in oak trees, but may also be found in other hardwoods. This particular species isn't known to grow in pines or conifers in our area. Mistletoes are particularly easy to spot at this time of year (winter)when the leaves of the hardwood trees have fallen. In fact, you can still find many plants in full fruit with little white berries, for female plants and male plants that are in full flower, the flowers are very small. There are separate female and male plants in this species.