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Mistletoe Facts
The sprig of mistletoe plant has been associated with
the Christmas holiday since ages. The power of mistletoe is not unknown
to anyone; it makes anyone and everyone kissable around the holiday
season - whether it is a friend or a relative or even a stranger. The
moment anyone comes beneath a sprig of mistletoe at a Christmas party,
he becomes a target for anyone who manages to see him. However, many
more things are associated with the mistletoes apart from kissing. Given
below are some interesting facts about the Christmas mistletoe.
Fun Facts About Mistletoe
- The American mistletoe plant is the mistletoe species that is
mainly associated with kissing. However, it is only one of the two
mistletoe plants that are native to the USA, the other being the
dwarf mistletoe.
- Not even the mistletoes have been saved from the threat of
extinction. About twenty species of mistletoes come in the
endangered list. So, next time you pluck a mistletoe sprig, make
sure that it is not from one of the endangered species.
- The scientific name of American mistletoe is Phoradendron,
meaning 'thief of the tree'. Though the mistletoe plant is not
classified as parasitic in nature, it comes quite close. It sinks
its roots into the host tree and takes away all the nutrients.
- The term mistletoe is believed to be derived from an Anglo-Saxon
word 'Mistal' and 'Tan', which mean 'dung' and 'twig', respectively.
Thus, the meaning of mistletoe comes out to be 'dung on a twig',
quite opposite to the sweet kissing tradition with which it is
associated.
- The seeds of mistletoe plant are quite sticky and easily glue
themselves to the beaks or feathers of birds or the fur of other
creatures. They usually fall near a likely host tree and start to
germinate.
- The seeds of the dwarf mistletoe can explode from ripe berries
and spurt as far as 50 feet.
- Mistletoe is poisonous for human beings, but its berries and
leaves serve as a high-protein food to many animals.
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