Mistletoe

Mistletoe, from the sandalwood family, lives as a semi-parasite on trees, growing between the branches to form spherical clusters up to 1 m in diameter and extracting water and nutrient salts from them. The energy-rich organic compounds are produced by the mistletoe through its own, year-round green leaves by means of photosynthesis. The fruits of mistletoe, pseudo-berries with sticky flesh, are spread by birds. Flowering time: June to September.

Depending on the host tree, a distinction is made between hardwood mistletoe (maple, lime, walnut, poplar, robinia, apple tree), fir mistletoe and pine mistletoe.

The dried herb, twigs with leaves and flowers, but also a few fruits (mistletoe herb - Visci herba) are used phytotherapeutically. For use in oncology, see mistletoe preparations.

Mistletoe branches are traditionally hung on the front door at the winter solstice and at Christmas time to ward off damage to the house. Another custom: those who kiss under mistletoe are said to become happy lovers.

1. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 160-161
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/mistel.php
3. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/viscum_album/mistel.htm
4. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/mistel.htm
5. https://pflanzen.fnr.de/industriepflanzen/arzneipflanzen/pflanzen-auswahl/mistel