Mistletoes are parasitic plants of the families Loranthaceae , Misodendraceae, and Santalaceae . The many species of mistletoe are slow-growing but persistent, and they are pests of many ornamental, timber, and crop trees. Some species are used as Christmas decorations.

mistletoe

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mistletoe

Q: Where do mistletoes grow?

Mistletoes can be found on every continent on Earth with the exception of Antarctica . Due to their partially parasitic nature—mistletoes rely on host plants for water, but they mostly photosynthesize for food—mistletoes always pilfer from other plants, but their host plants range regionally from ferns , grasses, and trees to other mistletoes.

Q: Are mistletoe berries poisonous?

The white berries of Phoradendron serotinum , also known as American mistletoe and oak mistletoe, are unlikely to cause lethal poisoning in humans and, in most cases, do not cause symptoms when consumed. American mistletoes tend to be less poisonous than their European counterparts, although the toxicity of both may vary by the species of the mistletoe’s host.

Q: Does mistletoe kill trees?

Mistletoe alone rarely kills the trees it inhabits. It is, however, known to weaken trees when it grows in abundance, especially if the host trees are already in poor health because of other factors, such as insects or disease .

Q: How are mistletoe seeds dispersed?

Mistletoe seeds are most often dispersed by birds who consume the berries of the plant and then excrete the seeds or wipe their beaks , to which the seeds often adhere, against other plants. Some mistletoes have bursting fruits that shoot their seeds to other trees at speeds of nearly 80 km (50 miles) per hour.

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Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 19, 2024 • Article History

Related Topics:: parasitic plant; dwarf mistletoe; Viscum; American mistletoe; hemiparasitism

On the Web:: New South Wales Government - Breaking Down Myths About Mistletoe (PDF) (Dec. 19, 2024)

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What is mistletoe?

Where do mistletoes grow?

Are mistletoe berries poisonous?

Does mistletoe kill trees?

How are mistletoe seeds dispersed?

mistletoe, any of many species of parasitic plants of the families Loranthaceae, Misodendraceae, and Santalaceae, especially those of the genera Viscum, Phoradendron, and Arceuthobium (all of which are members of the family Santalaceae). Most mistletoes parasitize a variety of hosts, and some species even parasitize other mistletoes, which in turn are parasitic on a host. They are pests of many ornamental, timber, and crop trees and are the cause of abnormal growths called “witches’ brooms” that deform the branches and decrease the reproductive ability of the host. Some species are used as Christmas decorations and are associated with a holiday ...(100 of 527 words)

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