Viscum album
Viscaceae
February to April
It is found mainly in the South
See the BSBI distribution map for Mistletoe
Mistletoe is a hemiparasite growing on Apple, Lime,
Hawthorn, Poplar, Sycamore and Willow, mainly in
orchards, hedgerows, windbreaks and coppices.
It is a native, woody hemiparasite, growing up to
1m with dichotomously branching stems, and
resembling a large rook's nest (picture 1).
Stems of varying thickness are shown growing
out of a branch of Apple in the last picture.
The flowers are small (up to 1cm across) and
dioecious (male and female on different plants).
Male flowers have 4 anthers sessile on tepals
(sepaloid petals).
Female flowers have 4 green, fleshy small sepals
and ovules in a large placenta..The stigma is sessile
and capitate.
Leaves are narrow curved ovals, from 5 to 8cm
long, in pairs, leathery and ranging from dark green
to yellow green.
Berries are white, spherical and around 1cm in
diameter.
Previous page: Mediterranean Spurge
Next page: Musk Stork's-bill
Mistletoe on Lime in winter - Somerset
Leaves and male flowers on Apple
Male flowers with anthers - front view
Close-up of male flowers - 4 anthers on tepals
Close-up of male flower - side view
Close-up of 'young' female flower with fleshy
sepals and large placenta
'Older' female flower
Berries with remains of 4 sepals and stigma
Berries and leaves - Xmas
Mistletoe stems growing out of an Apple branch
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