R.M. Polhill & D. Wiens (1990) Viscaceae. Flora of Somalia 2: 143-145.
Plants leafless, monoecious, often globose and erect, densely branched shrubs up to 50 cm tall. Distal branches with flattened internodes 10-20 mm long, 2-3 mm wide when young, becoming rounded with age. sessile. Inflorescences sessile, with 1 flower; staminate inflorescences often rare; bracteal cups sessile. Staminate flowers often with 2(-3) at the base of the tepals; pistillate flowers: styles minute but distinct; stigmas not expanded. Fruits pedicellate, pedicels about 1 mm long; berries globose, about 4 mm in diameter, smooth, orange; tepalar ring scars about 1.5 mm in diameter.
Viscum schimperi grows in acacia woodland, on acacia and elsewhere, also at the edges of dryy montane forest, at 1300-1450 m. It is known from region N1 of the Flora of Somalia, the Rift Valley (mostly on the eastern side), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, eastern Uganda, Kenya and northern Tanzania.
Habit bushy, leafless, parasitic, monoecous plants growing on the aerial branches of acacia species.
Leaves none.
Inflorescences staminate or pistillate, staminate inflorescences often rare; both staminate and pisillate inflorescences composed of solitary flowers in a sessile cup.
Flowers unisexual, staminate flowers with 2(-3) stamens attached at the base of the tepals, pistillate flowers with minute styles and an unexpaned stigma.
Fruits on pedicels about 1 mm long. globose, orange berries about 4 mm in diameter.