Holidays

Mistletoe

Holidays
Mistletoe
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Mistletoe is a group of evergreen shrubs that grow on the branches of woody trees and bushes. These plants remain green throughout the winter and produce small, persistent fruits that provide a food source for many species of birds during the colder months of the year.

Did you know? Mistletoe is actually a partial parasite that steals water and minerals from trees, meaning the plant we kiss under is technically a bit of a freeloader. elaborate

Fact 1 of 29

29 facts about Mistletoe

  1. 1
    The mistletoe plant is so sensitive to light that when the seed first germinates, it grows away from the light to hide in the dark crevices of tree bark where it can safely anchor itself.
  2. 2
    Many people mistakenly believe that all mistletoe is the same, but the mistletoe sold in North American stores is often a different genus than the traditional European variety used in ancient folklore.
  3. 3
    If you are a bird looking for a bathroom break, be careful; the seeds are so sticky that they can sometimes leave a trail of mistletoe slime that acts like a tether between the bird and the branch.
  4. 4
    In the world of biology, mistletoe is classified as a hemiparasite because it possesses chlorophyll and makes its own food, yet it still acts as a water pirate by siphoning xylem sap from its host.
  5. 5
    Because the sticky seeds are often stuck to the feathers of birds, they can be spread to new trees when a bird wipes its beak or body against a branch to get clean.
  6. 6
    The sticky viscin found in the berries is so strong that it is sometimes referred to as birdlime because it was used to trap small birds in history.
  7. 7
    It is a common mistake to assume mistletoe is a fungus because it looks like a strange growth, but it is actually a flowering plant.
  8. 8
    Some mistletoe varieties have no leaves at all and look like a tangle of green or brown wires dangling from a host tree.
  9. 9
    The seeds of some mistletoe plants are sensitive to light and will grow toward the darker side of a branch to increase their chance of finding bark.
  10. 10
    In the language of flowers, mistletoe represents vitality and overcoming difficulties.
  11. 11
    People wrongly believe that mistletoe is only for Christmas, but in some climates, it is a year-round nuisance for fruit orchards.
  12. 12
    There is a specific butterfly called the Great Purple Hairstreak that eats almost nothing but mistletoe leaves during its caterpillar stage.
  13. 13
    Many mistletoe species rely on specific birds, like the Mistle Thrush, to spread their seeds by eating the berries and passing them through their digestive tracts.
  14. 14
    Mistletoe acts as a keystone species, meaning that many birds and insects rely on it so heavily that the entire ecosystem would change if it disappeared.
  15. 15
    It is ironic that a plant representing love and kissing is actually a botanical bully that can eventually kill the tree it lives on.
  16. 16
    The glue in mistletoe berries is so effective that it has been studied by scientists to develop new types of strong, non-toxic surgical adhesives.
  17. 17
    Because mistletoe stays green all year round, ancient people thought it possessed a magical life force that defied the winter frost.
  18. 18
    Some mistletoe plants look so much like the tree they are living on that they are practically invisible to the casual observer.
  19. 19
    There are over 1,300 species of mistletoe found across every continent except Antarctica.
  20. 20
    People often think kissing under mistletoe is an ancient romantic tradition, but the practice actually gained its biggest popularity during the Victorian era.
  21. 21
    Some species of mistletoe have explosive fruits that shoot their seeds at speeds up to 50 miles per hour to ensure they land on a nearby branch.
  22. 22
    While we hang it in doorways, mistletoe in the wild actually prefers to grow high up in the canopy, making it a favorite snack for squirrels and birds.
  23. 23
    The Viscum album species of mistletoe is a hemiparasite that can photosynthesize its own energy, yet it still chooses to rob its neighbor of water.
  24. 24
    Unlike most plants, mistletoe does not have roots that go into the soil, but instead uses a specialized structure called a haustorium to tap into the host tree's plumbing.
  25. 25
    The name mistletoe is derived from old Germanic words meaning dung twig because people once thought the plant sprouted directly from bird droppings on branches.
  26. 26
    Mistletoe was once considered a cure for almost any ailment, including epilepsy and infertility, though it is actually quite toxic if eaten.
  27. 27
    Many people mistakenly believe that mistletoe is a single species, but it is actually a common name for a diverse group of plants in the order Santalales that have independently evolved their parasitic lifestyle multiple times.
  28. 28
    Mistletoe berries are sticky because they contain a glue-like substance called viscin, which helps the seeds stick to tree branches when birds drop them.
  29. 29
    Mistletoe is actually a partial parasite that steals water and minerals from trees, meaning the plant we kiss under is technically a bit of a freeloader.
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