Christmas Mistletoe the Plant

What is Mistletoe?

The word "Mistletoe" has its origins from two Anglo-Saxon words. The first word is "tan" (twig) and the second word is, "mistel" (dung). An Old English version of the word “Mistletoe” is, misteltan. It also derives from the Celtic word for all-heal. The common name of various parasitic plants from which the mistletoe plant is classified as, is the family Loranthaceae. The mistletoe plant’s history is significant in the folklore and religions of pre-Christian times. There are two common types of mistletoe, the European and American mistletoe. Both Christmas mistletoe plants belong to the plant family Loranthaceae.

European History of Mistletoe Facts:

The first is the European mistletoe, Viscum Album, that grows on a variety of trees; the most popular are the juniper trees and apple trees. The body or base of the European Mistletoe that attaches to a hoist tree branch has a dark green stick-like stem. Branching outward from the base stem are several pairs of leathery, dark green, pointy, football shaped leaves that grow in clusters. The European evergreen shrub variety also produces small greenish delicate flowers. Young mistletoe the plant does not flower until they have matured. Flowers start to appear on the plant in about five years. At the intersection of the stems, white or red waxy fruits or berries grow in a dense cluster usually producing two to as many as ten berries per stem. These berries are often eaten by birds.

American Mistletoe History:

The United States has the second variety of mistletoe which is similar to the European variety. The scientific name is Phoradendron Flavescens. Where does mistletoe grow in the United States? It grows in subtropical and tropical regions starting in Eastern Texas all the way to Florida. From there it grows from these southern states up to Missouri in the West and up to New Jersey along the Eastern states. Mistletoe grows on what is known as deciduous trees. It likes and thrives best on Elm trees and Red Maple trees. The American variety is similar to the European mistletoe except it produces more leaves and berries which in return make a bushier plant. It also has small, beautiful flowers which can be in a wide variety of colors, from yellow to bright red or green. These colorful flowers bloom in February and March. You can buy mistletoe products for the Christmas holiday on the internet.

How Mistletoe Grows:

The most common history of mistletoe beliefs in the early times was that mistletoe grew from birds landing in the branches of trees. That is why this popular holiday plant is thought to be named after bird droppings on a branch. Here is how fresh mistletoe grows. The small white berry clusters produced by the Christmas mistletoe plant are often eaten by birds. The bird droppings that are left on the tree branches contain seeds that sprout roots that penetrate the tree branches. The juices that are made in these white seeds are sticky and it is this stickiness that helps the white seeds stays on the tree branches rather than falling to the ground like most seeds. It will take about six weeks for the fresh mistletoe plant to start growing. After eating the sticky mistletoe seed, birds will often wipe their beaks on the branches to remove the sticky remains. This cleaning process also contributes to the spreading of mistletoe seeds.

The Mistletoe Plant:

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant and it uses tree branches as its host. What else do we know about the mistletoe plants life? It thrives on most hardwood trees; Apple and Oak trees are favorites but may grow on Hawthorn, Juniper, Locust, Sycamore, Firs and Popular trees as well. The definition of a parasite is that either an animal or plant needs to feed off another animal or plant to survive. The living animal or plant that the parasitic takes its nourishment from is referred to as the host. As the mistletoe grows on a host tree it grows roots that in turn penetrate the host’s protective bark. Then, these roots absorb the tree’s nutrients. Usually the plant does not kill the host tree but it can sometimes harm the host tree and may cause deformities in the tree branches. If the mistletoe overgrows and starves the host’s tree of its nutrients they will both die. You can buy mistletoe products throughout the Christmas season. Fresh mistletoe balls are easy to spot in the winter because its leaves stay green all year long like an Evergreen.