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Mistletoe Facts

Mistletoe Facts
Mistletoe is parasitic plant that belongs to the order Santalales. There are 1.300 species of mistletoe that can be found in tropical and temperate areas around the world. Mistletoe can survive in various habitats, from temperate forests to semi-arid areas, deserts and semi-tropic wetlands. Twenty species of mistletoe (most of which are restricted to the small and often isolated areas) are listed as endangered due to habitat destruction and/or loss of host plants.
Interesting Mistletoe Facts:
Mistletoe is woody shrub that can reach 5 feet in width and 50 pounds of weight. Unusual morphology of these plants is responsible for the nickname: witches' brooms.
Mistletoe has evergreen, oval leaves with smooth edges. Leaves are arranged in the pairs on the stem.
Mistletoes is dioecious shrub, which means male and female flowers develop on the separate plants. Depending on the species, flowers can be small or large, yellow, green or red colored.
Flowers of mistletoe are rich source of nectar which attracts butterflies, bees and birds, responsible for the pollination of these plants.
Fruit of mistletoe is white berry-like drupe. Ripe fruit of some species explodes to release seed that can land 50 feet away from the mother plant. Other species depend on the birds and mammals which eat fruit and eliminate seed via feces.
Sticky substance, called viscin, around the seeds of mistletoe facilitate gluing for the branches of the host plant.
Mistletoe belongs to the group of semi-parasitic plants (partial parasite). It develops specialized, tube-shaped roots, called haustoria, which penetrate into the branches and roots of the nearby plants and export all nutrients that mistletoe needs.
Even though mistletoe is capable of performing photosynthesis, it absorbs majority of nutrients and sugar from the host plant. Consequently, host slows the growth and dies prematurely.
Name "mistletoe" is coined from the Anglo-Saxon words "mistle" and "tan" which mean "dung twig". Name refers to the dispersal of seed via bird droppings.
Scientific name of the American mistletoe: "Phoradendron" means "thief of the tree" in Greek. Name refers to the semi-parasitic life of this plant.
Berries of mistletoe are poisonous for humans, but they represent important source of food for the birds and various mammals.
Many birds nest in the mistletoe. Certain species of squirrels use it as a hiding place.
Branches of mistletoe (hanged on the doors) were used against the witches and ghosts during the middle ages. Today, mistletoe represent inevitable part of Christmas decorations, especially in the USA. Romantic custom to kiss person caught under imela is few centuries old tradition which still lives in the USA.
Mistletoe was used in treatment of leprosy, hypertension, pain and intestinal worms in the past. Mistletoe extract is used in treatment of colon cancer in Europe today.
Mistletoe is perennial plant (lifespan: 2 years in the wild).


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