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.