Two genera of mistletoes grow in the United States：the “dwarf mistletoes”（genus Arceuthobium），and the “true mistletoes”（genus Phoradendron）．An introduced mistletoe，the European Viscum album，has been found only in northern California—the apple growing region around Sebastopol（塞瓦斯托波尔［苏联克里米亚半岛西南岸港市］）and Santa Rosa．This mistletoe was presumably（推测起来，大概）brought into this area inadvertently（不注意地）in the early 1900’s on apple stock from Europe．Since then，it has spread over about a 16square mile area，and is found on at least 20other native and introduced hardwood tree and shrub species．
This family is characterized by semiparasitic（半寄生的）plants，attached to trees or shrubs by haustoria，lacking ordinary roots，but having green chlorophyllous（［生化］叶绿素的，含叶绿素的）leaves and stems；leaves：opposite；flowers：inconspicuous（不显眼的，不引人注意的）；ovary：inferior；stamens（雄蕊，雄性花蕊）：as many as and opposite the perianth（［植］花被）lobes．
The mistletoes are green，flowering plants that require a living host．Some are rather specific and grow on only a single genus of tree；others occur on a wide range of hardwood species．Even though they are completely parasitic，they do manufacture much of their own food materials by photosynthesis（光合作用）and in general require only water and mineral elements from the host plant．In the absence of the green aerial（高耸的）portions of the mistletoe plant，how ever，the root system of the parasite（寄生虫，食客）can utilize（利用）host nutrients（有营养的）and remain alive within an infected branch for many years．The mistletoes are dioecoius in that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants．Because male and female flowers are so similar in appearance it is difficult to tell the sex of the plant unless fruit are present．
Mistletoe infections are spread mainly by birds（robins，bluebirds，thrushes，cedar（雪松）waxwings（［鸟］朱缘蜡翅鸟），phainopeplas）that feed on the berries．The berries are round，white to pink in color，occur in spikes and are about one－quarter inch in diameter．A berry usually holds a single seed surrounded by a sticky pulp（（水果的）果肉）．Birds digest the pulp of the berry and excrete（排泄，分泌）the living seed．By this means seeds are often deposited（沉淀）on susceptible trees．A viscous coating and hair－like threads on the outer surface of the seeds attach excreted seeds firmly to tree branches．Upon germinating，the growing radicle（［植］幼根，胚根）becomes tightly pressed to the branch surface．Young or small trees are seldom infected by mistletoe．In nearly all cases，initial infection occurs on larger or older trees because birds prefer to perch in the tops of taller trees．Severe buildup（形成）of mistletoe often occurs within an infected tree because birds are attracted to and may spend prolonged periods feeding on the mistletoe berries．
Infection takes place by means of a specialized，penetrating（穿透，渗透）structure that forces its way through the bark and into the living host tissues．Once infection has occurred，the root system of the parasite grows within the branch．The aerial shoot system begins to develop shortly after the root system is well established．Often several years are required after infection for a new seed bearing plant to develop．The parasite usually does not spread rapidly，but once a plant is established，the root system gradually extends up and down the branch．Defoliation（落叶）or destruction（破坏，毁灭）of the aerial portion does not kill the mistletoe．New shoots may be produced from the root system or the parasite may survive and grow entirely within the infected host tissues．Not until the tree dies，or the infected portion dies or is removed，is the mistletoe killed．
State Flag州旗
俄克拉荷马州现在使用的州旗是在1925年立法机关批准的，是俄克拉荷马州历史上第14枚州旗。从这面旗帜上，可以看出和平主题。在天蓝色的旗帜上有两种象征和平的标记。一是北美土人所用之一种烟斗，二是橄榄枝。而在盾牌上的“十”字架则象征着星星，代表崇高的理想，在盾牌上饰有鹰的羽毛。
The present Oklahoma State Flag adopted by the State Legislature in 1925，is Oklahoma’s 14th flag．The Oklahoma state flag honors more than 60groups of Native Americans and their ancestors（祖先，祖宗）．The blue field comes from a flag carried by Choctaw soldiers during the civil war．The center shield is the battle shield of an Osage warrior．It is made of buffalo hide（水牛皮）and decorated with eagle feathers．Two symbols of peace lie across the shield．One is the calumet（北美土人所用之一种烟斗，和平的象征），or peace pipe．The other is an olive branch．Crosses on the shield are Native American signs for stars，representing high ideals．The flag was designed by Mrs．Louise Fluke．
An Osage warrior’s buckskin（鹿皮裤，鹿皮）shield，decorated with pendant（垂饰，下垂物）eagle feathers is the basic design．In crossed positions over the shield are an Indian peace pipe and an olive branch（橄榄枝），the white man’s symbol of peace．The flag is a rich sky blue．The word “Oklahoma”is white．The Osage war shield is tan（茶色）outlined in red，the peace pipe is white with red tips and the olive branch is green．
State Song州歌
Oklahoma
Brand new state！Brand new state，gonna treat you great！
Gonna give you barley（大麦），carrots（胡萝卜）and pertaters，
Pasture fer the cattle，Spinach and Temayters！
Flowers on the prarie where the June bugs
（小虫）zoom（急速上升），
Plen’y of air and plen’y of room，
Plen’y of room to swing a rope！
Plen’y of heart and plen’y of hope．
Oklahoma，where the wind comes sweepin’down the plain，
And the wavin’wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain．
Oklahoma，ev’ry night my honey lamb and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
makin’lazy circles in the sky．
We know we belong to the land
And the land we belong to is grand！
And when we say—Yeeow！A－yip－i－o－ee ay！
We’re only sayin’You’re doin’fine，Oklahoma！
Oklahoma—O．K．
Facts and Trivia相关资料
1．On July 25，2000，Governor Keating announced plans to construct a dome（圆屋顶）on the Oklahoma State Capitol Building．Construction is slated to begin April 2001with an estimated completion date of November 2002．
2．The world’s first installed parking meter was in Oklahoma City，on July 16，1935．Carl C．Magee，of Oklahoma City，Oklahoma，is generally credited with originating the parking meter．He filed for a patent for a “coin controlled parking meter”on May 13，1935．
