The objectives of this unit are focused on the biology, systematics, utilization for medicinal purposes, and pathology of the parasitic flowering plants in the forests. The Working Party will utilize the classical and the new biotechnology tools and advances to accelerate our understanding on the role, utilization, and the impact of the parastic flowering plants in the forests. Forest Biologists, Pathologists, and others interested in this field are invited to participate in the Unit's activities by contacting the Working Party Coordinator via the above address information.

There are many parasitic flowering plants throughout the globe, and these have recently been reviewed in the excellent text, "Parasitic Flowering Plants", by Henning S. Heide-Jorgensen (2008, Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands. ).  An excellent website, "The Parasitic Plant Connection" is maintained by Dan Nickrent from the Department of Plant Biology at Southern Illinois University (http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/).   The International Parasitic Plant Society is the premier international society that coordinates scientific knowledge exchange (http://parasiticplants.org/).

Although parasitic plants occur in the understory of native forests, the most important parasitic plants that effect tree health are the mistletoes (Mathiasen et al. 2008).  Depending on your taxonomic perspective, the mistletoes are all in the Santales and occur in five families; Loranthaceae, Viscaceae, Misodendraceae, Eremolepidaceae, and Santalaceae.  The Loranthaceae and Viscaceae are the most economically damaging families, and affect tree plantations, orchards, and gardens throughout the globe, but particularly in the tropics, although the dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium spp., Viscaceae) are important conifer pests in western North America.  Management of economically important mistletoes is complex (Shaw and Mathiansen 2013), but has recently shifted with the understanding that mistletoes are native plants linked to biodiversity and ecosystem function (Watson and Herring 2012).

There is a significant literature on mistletoes, while regional floras allow identification.  The IUFRO Working Party 7.02.11 is working to continue knowledge exchange on this important group of parasites that are managed for both conservation and economic impacts.