Mistletoe is not just a bit of greenery that doubles as an excuse to sneak a holiday kiss. It is actually a real plant that can be found on all continents on the globe except Antarctica. It thrives in diverse habitats ranging from deserts to rain forests to neighborhood trees in Mississippi like the one in this photo.
Mistletoes are parasitic plants. They insert specialized structures into their host tree to withdraw water and nutrients. Mistletoes produce their own food through photosynthesis in their leaves, but they must have the additional nutrients and water from their host to survive. In most cases, the host will survive its mistletoe parasites, but it be weakened or misshapen.
Apologies if kissing under a parasitic plant is no longer romantic holiday fun for you!
Original source can be found here.
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