Mistletoe

Botanische kenmerken

Evergreen shrub growing on the branches of host trees, 30–100 cm in diameter, with forked yellow-green leaves and sticky white berries in winter.

Herkomst

Europe, North Africa and western Asia; grows on apple, poplar, hawthorn and other broadleaf hosts.

Traditioneel gebruik

Central to Celtic druidic tradition and a fixture of European midwinter customs. Recorded in classical apothecary texts as a plant of the boundary between seasons.

Interessante weetjes

Mistletoe never touches the ground: its seed germinates directly on the host's bark, spread by birds that wipe the sticky pulp onto branches.