Sandalwood
A relative of our mistletoe: Native Hawaiians used this aromatic plant for making boats, perfume and medicine. Soon, it was exploited by incomers and trees were exported to China, for the manufacture of intricately carved furniture.
Epsom & Ewell Flower Finder
Santalaceae: the plant family that includes mistletoe
There are other mistletoe species on the planet but I think ours is the most talked about. Kissing under the mistletoes is a Victorian custom; further back in time, pagan societies in the British Isles regarded the berries as a symbol of male fertility. Roman families hung sprigs of the plant over doorways believing it would bring good fortune.
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Viscum album
Mistletoe, Kissing Bough
Evergreen. Forms a ball-like structure in trees, up to 2 metres across.
About
The berries are attractive to our largest thrush, the Mistle Thrush. Plants form on fruit trees and Hawthorns among others. A sticky substance, viscin, sticks the seed to branches as they are discarded or expelled by the bird.
Mistletoe parasitises trees. It has separately sexed fowers on each plant and an organ - the haustorium, penetrates into the host to extract water and nutrients.
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