December 25, 2009
FROM THE ARCHIVES: PARASITIC AND ROMANTIC!:
It also has a medical tradition.: Mistletoe, a shrub both parasitic and romantic (Kathy Van Mullekom, 12/25/09, NEWPORT NEWS, VA., DAILY PRESS)
The plant's thick, green leathery leaves are evergreen and wedge- to egg-shaped and one to two inches long. Tiny yellow flowers bloom on the smooth, jointed stems in late fall, followed by round, white berries - only the female plant produces the fruits.Mistletoe, botanically called Phoradendron serotinum (leucarpum) takes water and nutrients from the plant it grows on, but it also produces some chlorophyll and draws energy from the sun, says Hamilton.
Having no roots of their own, they produce structures called "sinkers" and "haustoria" that penetrate the host's tissue.
Found in almost every county in Virginia, American mistletoe thrives in trees from New Jersey to southern Ohio, southern Indiana and southern Missouri and south to Florida and Texas. Usually favoring a few species in any given area, it seems to especially like hickories and oaks.
During this time of year, mistletoe takes on a romantic role, hanging around the house and giving couples a place to kiss. The custom is said to have originated in Scandinavia where it was considered a place of peace - enemies and couples would make up under it.
[originally posted: 12/25/09]
