Korthalsella clavata
Common names
dwarf mistletoe
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: Sp, DPS, DPT
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Simplified description
Delicate parasite mistletoe, flattened beaded succulent very small (to 8 cm) shrub growing on twigs of another plant. Leaves (flattened stems) 5–10 mm long by 1.5–3.5 mm wide, widest towards tip. Flowers tiny, fruit small, green, on short spike.
Flower colours
Green
Detailed description
Hemiparasitic, succulent, few branches, golden brown, dark olive-green plant parasitising exposed branches and branchlets of host. Haustoria internal, dark green, encircling stele of host. Plants 50–100 mm, erupting from host bark, individual aerial structures lasting from 1–4 years before dehiscing and resprouting. Branches few, arising at wide angles, jointed with flattened internodes. Internodes thick, narrow-obovate to narrow-spathulate in outline, 5-10 × 1.5–3.5 mm, sub-succulent, rather abruptly narrowed to much-constricted node. Flowers borne on upper nodes of branches, growing in whorls on a more narrow spathulate stems 10 -15 mm long. Fruit 1.5 mm long, ovoid to globular, single seeded, fleshy berries, dispersed by birds or ejected under hydraulic pressure.
Similar taxa
Most likely confused with Korthalsella lindsayi, with which it can be found growing. The structure of both species is similar, the internodes of K. lindsayi (compared to K. clavata) are wider 5-12 × 3-9 mm (5-10 × 1.5-3.5), with K. clavata generally having more smaller bead-like internodes compared to the wider spathulate segments seen in K. lindsayi.
Distribution
Endemic. Te Ika-a-Māui | North Island, from near Whakamaru south to Wairarapa and Turakirae Head; Te Waipounamu | South Island, throughout, though notably more common in the east.
Habitat
Coastal to subalpine (0-1500m.a.s.l.), usually found parasitising shrubs within grey scrub communities, also found on shrubs and trees within montane alluvial forest. No clear host preference is as yet evident, though regional patterns may exist (this needs study).
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Viscum clavatum Kirk, Korthalsella lindsayi var. clavata (Kirk) Danser
Taxonomic notes
It has been suggested (Allan, 1961), that this entity may be a hybrid between K. lindsayi, and K salicornoides. The general consensus (Rebergen & Sawyer, 2005) is that this species is worthy of species rank.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October–March
Fruiting
October–June
Life cycle and dispersal
Fleshy berries are dispersed by ballistic projection, attachment and possibly frugivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild.
Other information
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Etymology
korthalsella: After Korthals, botanist
clavata: From the Latin clavatus ‘club-shaped’
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
KORCLA
Chromosome number
2n = 28
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2025 | Regionally Threatened – Regionally Endangered | Qualifiers: DPR, DPS, DPT, NR, PF, Sp
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation Status of Indigenous Vascular Plants in Otago, 2025” Jarvie S et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan HH. 1961. Flora of New Zealand, Volume I. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledones. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. Pg. 412.
Rebergen A, Sawyer JWD. 2005. Korthalsella clavata in the lower North Island. Wellington Botanical Society Bulletin 49: 11–15.
Nickrent DL, Malécot V, Vidal-Russell R, Der JP. 2010. A revised classification of Santalales. Taxon 59: 538–558. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.592019.
Thorsen MJ, Dickinson KJM, Seddon PJ. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2009.06.001.
Attribution
Fact sheet desription prepared for NZPCN by MD Ward (December 21st 2025). Description adapted from Allan (1961) & Rebergen & Sawyer (2005).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.