A seasonal plant – Mistletoe.
by Lewis, 22 December, 2016, 1 comments
Many evergreen plants are associated with Winter, and Christmas in particular - notably various fir trees as 'Christmas Trees', holly and ivy for decorations and wreaths, and mistletoe as the decoration under which lovers might kiss. For an interesting video on “The Botany of Christmas” visit Mark Nesbitt’s lecture to the Linnean Society.
Associations with Mistletoe go way back and there are a number of customs and myths surrounding the plant. Pliny wrote that it was collected by Druids - particularly from oak (believing that it held the soul of the host tree and it was to be cut from the trees with a golden sickle). Mistletoe has been used in folk / herbal medicine to treat various ailments - from cancer to epilepsy but clinical trials as to its effectiveness are needed. However, like many plants, mistletoe is actively being investigated for its phytochemicals and possible medical uses. Read more...
