Mistletoe

Santalaceae (Viscaceae)

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Loranthaceae

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Mistletoe is the common name for various parasitic plants of the families Santalaceae (in the section of the family formerly separated as Viscaceae) and Loranthaceae.

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The name was originally applied to Viscum album (European Mistletoe, Santalaceae; the only species native in Great Britain and much of Europe), and subsequently to other related species, including Phoradendron leucarpum (the Eastern Mistletoe of eastern North America, also Santalaceae). In an example of convergent evolution, several less related but superficially very similar plants in the Loranthaceae are also so similar that they have also been called mistletoes.

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The European Mistletoe is readily recognised by its smooth-edged oval leaves in pairs along the woody stem, and waxy white berries in dense clusters of 2-6 together. American Mistletoe is similar, but has shorter, broader leaves and longer clusters of ten or more berries together.

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Mistletoe biodiversity is markedly higher in subtropical and tropical climates; Australia has 85 species, of which 71 are in Loranthaceae, and 14 in Santalaceae.

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The species grow on a wide range of trees, and can eventually prove fatal to them where infestation is heavy, though damage more commonly only results in growth reduction. Most mistletoes are only partial parasites, bearing evergreen leaves that carry out some photosynthesis of their own, relying on the host mainly for mineral nutrients from the ground. The genus Arceuthobium (dwarf mistletoe; Santalaceae) has dispensed with even this, becoming a total parasite relying on its host plant for photosynthesis as well as nutrients.

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Most mistletoes are spread by birds (e.g. the Mistle Thrush in Europe, and the Phainopepla in southwestern North America) which eat the berries. The seeds are excreted in their droppings and stick to twigs, or more commonly the bird grips the fruit in its bill which squeezes the sticky coated seed out to the side which the bird then wipes clean on a suitable branch. The seeds are coated with a sticky gum, Viscin, which hardens and attaches the seed firmly to its future host.

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The word 'mistletoe' is of uncertain etymology; it may be related to German Mist, another word for dung, but Old English mistel was also used for basil.

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Viscaceae: Viscaceae was a family of flowering plants formerly considered distinct, but following genetic studies by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group is now included within the Santalaceae....

Parasitic: REDIRECT Parasitism...

Loranthaceae: See: Mistletoe...

Mistletoe related Images and Photos (experimental)

Mistletoe Viscum Album	Under the Mistletoe	Under the Mistletoe	Under the Mistletoe
Pacific or Oak Mistletoe (Phoradendron Villosum) on an Oak Host (Quercus) Roseburg Oregon USA	Under the Mistletoe For the Illustrated London News 1865	Christmas Roses with Mistletoe	Druids Cut the Sacred Mistletoe
Two Girls and Their Dog Gather Mistletoe in the Snow	In a Forest Near Chartres France Druids Collect Mistletoe for Ritual Purposes	On Christmas Eve a Girl Goes out to Gather Mistletoe to Decorate the House	Girl Stands at a Stile with a Load of Holly and a Sprig of Mistletoe