Mistletoe Description Mistletoe is a parasitic evergreen plant that lives on trees such as oaks, elms, firs, pines, apples, and elms. The parasitic plant has yellowish flowers; small, yellowish green leaves; and waxy, white berries. The Mistletoe Bird - Dicaeum hirundinaceum has a very close relationship with mistletoe plants.
The Mistletoe Bird feeds mainly on the berries of the mistletoe and it is the main vector for distrubuting the seeds. Most birds perch across a branch or twig and as a result their droppings fall to the ground. Mistletoe is a plant with an interesting and colorful history going back a couple thousand years. It is a unique plant that intrigues many, not only for its growth habits, but for its part in our legends and customs.
mistletoe treatment, Most people think of Christmas when they think of mistletoe. And kissing. But there is more to this plant than an excuse to kiss that attractive girl or guy. The Golden Bough in Context Some scholars, such as James Frazer, have suggested that the Golden Bough was actually mistletoe. Virgil describes the Golden Bough as being sheltered by an oak, much as mistletoe grows as a parasite on many trees, including oaks.
mistletoe treatment, In addition, mistletoe has a long history of supernatural associations in different ... Eastern wild mistletoe - just one of 400 species in the mistletoe family - is common along the Ohio River from Marietta to Cincinnati. In fact, southern Ohio is on the northernmost edge of the mistletoe range. Selective about where it perches, mistletoe in Ohio prefers putting down roots in the tops of American elm, silver maple and black gum ... The link between mistletoe and love gave rise to the tradition of kissing under a sprig of mistletoe during the winter holiday season. Balder in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life In early mythological texts, Balder was often shown at or just before his moment of death by mistletoe.
The Celts believed that by bringing evergreens indoors they were providing a haven for woodland spirits through the winter months. Evergreen plants like holly, ivy and mistletoe were thought to ward off misfortune and bring protection and luck.[3]
