Research Article:  Mistletoe species and their recorded hosts from Mandal Forest range of Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India

Dhan Singh  Bisht; Abhishek  Tripathi

doi:10.21276/pt.2026.v3.i1.6

Research Article: Mistletoe species and their recorded hosts from Mandal Forest range of Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India

Authors

Dhan Singh Bisht Herbal Research and Development Institute, Mandal, Gopeshwar - 246 401, Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2883-4355
Abhishek Tripathi Director, Herbal Research & Development Institute, Mandal, Gopeshwar Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1438-5235

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21276/pt.2026.v3.i1.6

Keywords:

Mistletoe species , Parasite, Host, garhwal, Uttarakhand

Abstract

Mistletoes (family Loranthaceae) are important hemiparasitic plants widely distributed in the Himalayan region. Previous literature reports only three mistletoe species—Taxillus vestitus, Viscum articulatum, and Viscum loranthi—from the Mandal–Chopta forests of the Garhwal Himalaya at elevations between 1500 and 2500 m. The present study documents the occurrence of Scurrula parasitica L. and Taxillus vestitus (Wall.) Danser from the Mandal Forest Range and records their association with host species including Salix elegans, Albizia lebbeck, and Quercus leucotrichophora. The findings expand the existing knowledge of mistletoe diversity and host range in this part of the Garhwal Himalaya and provide updated baseline information for future taxonomic and ecological studies in the region.

Author Biographies

Dhan Singh Bisht, Herbal Research and Development Institute, Mandal, Gopeshwar - 246 401, Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India

Scientist, Herbal Research & Development Institute, Mandal-Gopeshwar, Chamoli
Abhishek Tripathi, Director, Herbal Research & Development Institute, Mandal, Gopeshwar

Director, Herbal Research & Development Institute, Mandal, Gopeshwar,

and Chief Development Officer, District Chamoli, Uttarakhand

References

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Published

2026-03-17

Data Availability Statement

This article contains data that supports the study.

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Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Current Issue

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Articles

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How to Cite

Bisht DS, Tripathi A. Research Article: Mistletoe species and their recorded hosts from Mandal Forest range of Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India. phytoTalks. 2026;3(1):721-725. doi:10.21276/pt.2026.v3.i1.6