Mistletoe

[dandysmom]

Saw on the noon news that mistletoe will be very scarce this holiday season because of the severe drouth in Texas where most of it grows .....

[Kazz]

Really it grows in Texas. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant and actually speeds up the death of the tree host, weird eh? I brought soem mistletoe this year and brought it when I was in Gloucstershire so locally grown it grows around/in orchards I think.

[Velvet]

Interesting - never have need for it tho........ :)

[dandysmom]

Same here, Velvet, just of academic interest to me too! :mrgreen:

[truthisouthere]

Yes, mistletoe puts it's roots down through the branch of it's host tree, thickening the branches, the only way to get rid is to cut off the whole branch. Trees can live for many years with mistletoe, but it does tend to weaken them alot. You can grow your own by rubbing a few berries on a branch where they'll root by living off the gelly like moisture sourrounding the berry. Eilen, you're right, the berries can't dry up or they won't be able to reproduce on the tree. More commonly it's the birds that spread the mistletoe as the seed is deposited in their droppings where it takes on the tree.
Blackbirds love the berries but they are poisonous to man.