Mistletoe, also known as Viscum album, it a hemi-parasitic plant. Birds eat the bright red berries and then excretes the seeds. If the seeds fall just right, the seed ends up in a tree where it proceeds to take root. The mistletoe will grow right in the tree, sucking its nutrients from the host tree. As the plant reaches adulthood it grows even more berries which more birds eat. Eventually, if enough plants take root, the mistletoe will suck the tree of all its nutrients and it dies.
Mistletoe is also a poisonous plant (at least for humans). If eaten, it causes acute Gastrointestinitis, low blood pressure, and Diarrhea.
This December, I hope we all take the opportunity to share this biology lesson with that someone special before we kiss them under this parasitic, poisonous plant.
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