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

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.