The mistletoe Psittacanthus angustifolius Kuijt (Loranthaceae) is a common parasite of pines in Central America and southern Mexico (1,2). In August 2000, we observed this mistletoe parasitizing a wild guava tree, Psidium guineense Sw., ≈5 km north of Yamaranguila, Department Intibuca, Honduras, at an elevation of 1,800 m. Only one plant was found on a single tree, and wild guava is apparently a rare host for this mistletoe because we have not observed this host-parasite combination in other areas where Psidium guineense occurs. This is the first report of P. angustifolius on a plant other than Pinus spp. In November 2000, we observed this mistletoe parasitizing Pinus tecunumanii (Schw.) Eguiluz et Perry ≈4 km north of Opatoro, Department La Paz, Honduras, at an elevation of 1,700 m. Several pines were infected, but no trees had more than five mistletoe infections. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. angustifolius on P. tecunumanii in Honduras, although it is known to occur on this host in Chiapas, Mexico. Specimens of P. angustifolius from these hosts have been deposited at the Herbario, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales, Siguatepeque, Honduras.
References: (1) R. Mathiasen et al. Plant Dis. 84:203, 2000. (2) R. Mathiasen et al. Plant Dis. 84:808, 2000.
