The south is plagued with Eastern Mistletoe, you see it everywhere you go.
Mistletoe is a parasite and can eventually kill trees if the infestation is heavy enough. It slowly robs trees of nutrients and water. They have a root system, of sorts, which grows into the tree and anchor it, called the haustorium.Evergreen trees and in the South, a lot of Deciduous trees do not seem to be as plagued by the parasite, such as Live Oaks, which stay green for much of the year.
The word mistletoe is supposedly derived from Germanic ‘mistel’ and ‘toe’ from a misunderstanding of an Old English word ‘tan’ meaning twig.
As for the roots of mistel, that etymology is obscure, though the word has cousins in Germanic languages. Because mistletoe can be spread through birds’ feces, it is possible that mistel derives from an obsolete, Germanic-derived noun mix, meaning “dung, filth.
(So …. That plant you’re kissing under could be a … “dung-twig.)
Mistletoe produces whitish berries, which birds eat and fly to other trees and ‘plant’ the seeds in those trees as they poop.
The tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and wards off evil spirits.
In Norse mythology, the plant plays a key part in a story with a violent conclusion; the Norse god Balder is killed by his blind brother, Hoor, with, of all things, a mistletoe projectile. Some versions claim he came back to life, and his mother, Frigg, cried tears that turned into mistletoe berries and she then declared the plant to be symbolic of love.
If that’s not enough to get your feelings of ‘amore’ fired up, here’s more.
Birdlime, or a juice made from mistletoe berries, is used as an adhesive to trap small birds. Coils of the sticky substance are placed on tree branches. When birds land on them, they get stuck. The birds can then be caught by hand. Though illegal in many parts of the world, some countries still use this method to capture wild birds for eating.
Some species of the plant are toxic to humans too, if ingested.
Historically, mistletoe represents romance, fertility, and vitality. Because nothing says love like … bird feces and poison.
So pucker up, … if you’re still in the mood after reading this, lol.
Mistletoe in trees during the winter.
See also: Great Purple Hairstreak, which I would have never known about if not for 'Birdchaser' … Thanks.
