Viscum minimum 8-9 millimeters, emerges from these stems. The leaves and stems are capable of photosynthesis, making the plant technically a hemiparasite. The "Viscum minimum" mitochondrial genome has been sequenced, showing an unusual loss of genes or their functions. Viscum minimum Viscum minimum is a species of mistletoe in the family Santalaceae. It is a parasitic plant native to South Africa. In its native habitat "Viscum minimum" uses two species of succulents, "Euphorbia polygona" and "Euphorbia horrida", as host plants. However, given the opportunity, the plant uses a range of succulents, including cacti, as hosts. A mature "Viscum minimum" consists mostly of
Common name nomenclature is a global system that attempts to denote particular organisms or taxa uniquely and , on the assumption that such organisms or taxa are well-defined and generally also have well-defined interrelationships; accordingly the ICZN has formal rules for biological nomenclature and convenes periodic international meetings to further that purpose. The form of scientific names for organisms that are called binomial nomenclature is superficially similar to the noun-adjective form of vernacular names or common names which were used by prehistoric cultures. A collective name such as "owl" was made more precise by the addition of an adjective such as "screech".