Viscum album (mistletoe)

Mistletoe is a plant which steals some, but not all of its nutritional requirements from other plants - it is a hemi-parasite.

It is a small, leathery-leaved evergeen which forms a ball-shaped mass easily seen on the branches of deciduous host trees in winter.

Mistletoe appears in the myths of various cultures although its association with kissing is largely restricted to the English-speaking world.

Taxonomy

Mistletoe belongs to the family Viscaceae, and to the genus Viscum, which contains approximately 450 species of parasitic plants. Read on to find out more, and discover how you can age a mistletoe plant.
Distribution

Mistletoe is native to temperate regions of the old world and grows on a wide variety of tree species. Find out where you might see it.
Biology

All mistletoes are parasitic on other plants, and rely on their hosts for most of their food. Discover how the plant gains a foothold on the host tree.
Uses

Kissing under the mistletoe has been a popular Christmas tradition in English-speaking nations since the 18th century, but its use in rituals goes back further. Find out more.