Parasite Plant

ACTUALLY ONLY HEMI-PARASITIC, THIS COMMONLY SEEN BUT HARDLY NOTICED PLANT HAS MANY VIRTUES

- Jennifer Stackhouse

Mistletoe is one of those odd-bod plants. Mistletoes are found around the world and there are many different plants known as mistletoe. All are parasitic plants that can only grow on another species. In Australia, the most commonly seen mistletoe grows on gum trees, its leaves resembling those of its host tree, but there are also mistletoe species found on wattles, kurrajong, bottle brush and other trees and shrubs.

This curious plant attracted attention long ago and has featured in myths and legends over many centuries. One reason for its popularity is that it stands out in winter as it is evergreen when its host trees in the northern hemisphere are bare and leafless. Boughs of mistletoe (Viscum album), which grows right across Europe to Japan and has green leaves and white berries, were gathered from apple and other trees in winter to decorate homes and as protection from evil spirits.