Mistletoe
ExplorePlants
Mistletoe
Viscum album
Mistletoe is a unique plant that grows on tree branches. It has green leaves and white berries, making it a special sight during winter holidays.
Habitat: Trees
Appearance
The Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with leathery, oblong leaves growing in dense, rounded clumps on tree branches. It has small, waxy, yellowish-green flowers and produces distinctive translucent white berries, making it easily spotted in winter.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSantalalesFamilyViscaceaeGenusViscum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Believe it or not, some butterflies actually lay their eggs ONLY on mistletoe!
In Norse myths, the god Baldr could only be harmed by a mistletoe arrow!
Mistletoe's sticky berries can glue themselves onto new tree branches!
Some mistletoe plants can live for over 100 years, becoming giant green balls!
Special abilities
Ability
Host Hugger
Mistletoe can tap into host trees' water and nutrients, growing high in the canopy without needing soil roots.
Ability
Sticky Seed Shooter
Its berries contain sticky seeds that birds spread to new branches, helping new mistletoe plants latch on.
Ability
Winter Wonder-Food
Mistletoe provides food and shelter for wildlife during colder months when other resources are scarce.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-100 cm
- Spread
- 30-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.1-0.3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late_winter-early_spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus
eats sticky berries, helps spread seeds
parasitizes
European Aspen
Populus tremula
grows on branches, stealing water and nutrients
parasitizes
Apple Tree
Malus domestica
common host in orchards, can reduce fruit yield
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
visits small flowers for nectar and pollen
Traits
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Parasitic
This trait describes organisms that live on or in a host organism, obtaining nutrients at the host's expense.
Also known as
Common MistletoeEuropean Mistletoe
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Admire mistletoe from a distance as some species can be toxic if ingested.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Mistletoe?
30-100 cm
How wide does Mistletoe spread?
30-100 cm
How big are the flowers on Mistletoe?
0.1-0.3 cm
When does Mistletoe bloom?
Late_winter-early_spring
Is Mistletoe edible?
No
Is Mistletoe toxic?
Mild
What is Mistletoe's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Mistletoe pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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