PlantFiles: European Mistletoe, Mistletoe
Viscum album

In central Europe, there is a sub-species called Viscum album ssp. abieties that grows exclusively on conifers, especially Pinus nigra ssp. austriaca and on various species of Abies.

Bright, yellowish-green foliage springing from the branch of an otherwise bare tree in Winter distinguishes the Mistletoe from a distance. Its special roots invade the tissues of the host tree and take nourishment, although the plant makes some of its food using sunlight. Mistletoe grows on a large range of deciduous trees; it is especially common on apple, although uncommon on Oak and found only rarely on conifers. Birds eating the berries wipe of sticky seeds from their beaks onto a branch, where the seeds grow into new plants. Mistletoe is familiar through the Christmas tradition of kissing under a sprig of the plant - magical properties have been atributed to the plant throughout the ages. In particular, the plants that grew on Oak featured much in ancient ceremonies of the Druids. Mistletoe has been used medicinally to treat heart disease and many different nervous disorders.