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Most of us know mistletoe as the sprig of green leaves and white berries at Christmastime that bestows the right to kiss the person under it. But mistletoe is a real plant that grows as a semi-parasite on trees. American mistletoe is an evergreen shrub that forms clumps 1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m) in diameter on branches of broad-leaved trees. Mistletoe leaves are opposite, thick and leathery, oval to round, and 1-2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) long. The flowers are small and inconspicuous and the fruits are white or yellowish berries about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) in diameter. The bushy clumps, usually on branches near treetop, are most visible in winter on deciduous trees that have lost their leaves. Look for it especially on pecan trees, but mistletoe can occur on almost any forest tree. It's common on live oaks, but harder to see.
Location
Culture
European mistletoe (Viscum album) was believed to be magical by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Celtic druids. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe began more than 2000 years ago! One tradition holds that a man is entitled to kiss a woman under the mistletoe, after which he removes one berry. When all berries are gone, the kissing ends. In some traditions, a kiss under the mistletoe means the lovers will marry. In some, if a girl is not kissed under the mistletoe, it means she will not marry in the following year. Native Americans used infusions of mistletoe roots and berries to induce abortion, and externally to relieve rheumatism. Modern researchers have identified active compounds in mistletoe that have potential value in treating smooth muscle problems, hypertension, and cancer.
Features Mistletoe has chlorophyll and produces its own food, but it also has modified roots that extend into the host tree's circulatory system to derive water and minerals. It is not a serious pest, however, and even heavy infestations cause little loss of vigor to the host tree. Pruning mistletoe causes increased bud development and results in more shoots over a wider area. The common name, mistletoe, derives from ancient Anglo-Saxon words for dung and twig, and bespeaks the observation that mistletoe often sprouts where a bird left its droppings on a branch.
Steve Christman 12/04/99; updated 12/28/03
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