Flower:

This parasitic plant has separate male and female flowers on separate plants (dioecious), typically on separate host plants as well but occasionally on different branches of the same tree. Males have a single tiny flower ~2 mm diameter at the top of the stem, mostly with 3 or 4 egg-shaped to triangular petals and an equal number of conspicuous yellow stamens, sometimes also in the uppermost leaf axils. Female flowers have 2 or 3 petals and arise from the leaf axils all along the stem. Color ranges from green to orange-brown to various shades of red. Unlike most dioecious plants, the male flowers bloom before the female.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are tiny, scale-like and fleshy. Stems emerge from the bark of the host plant, are short, usually numerous and unbranched, rarely with short, fan-like branches. All plant parts are smooth. Female stems are typically longer than males.

Fruit:

Fruit is a tiny oval berry on a short, drooping stalk that matures in late summer. When ripe it forcefully ejects seed coated with a sticky substance that adheres to whatever it touches.

Notes:

This unusual wildflower infests native stands of principally black spruce (Picea mariana), less frequently on white spruce (P. glauca) and rarely tamarack (Larix laricina), and is studied by foresters as it affects stand quality. As an infective agent it behaves like a disease organism, having an infection center diminishing out toward the edges. Witches brooms (unusual clustering growth of branches) are commonly produced on infected trees making it visually observed in the crowns from some distance, but not all witches brooms seen on spruce are caused by Dwarf Mistletoe. It has persisted along with its host naturally and is not perceived as a serious forest management pest.