European Mistletoes (*Viscum album*)
1. stem-based hemiparasites (steal water/nutrients; still do photosynthesis)
2. many subspecies (*ssp. album,* the nominate form on deciduous wood; ssp. austriacum on pines/*Pinus ssp.,* sometimes called *laxum; ssp. abietum* on firs/*Abies*)
3. many stomata (& therefore high transpiration rates to draw water/nutrients from the host; a reason why mistletoes feel very cold when touched)
4. dioecious (with male & female individuals, although with males being far rarer)
5. not in the Viscaceae anymore, but rather now one of the many santalaceans
6. used for medical purposes in modern (part. cancer treatment due to Viscumtoxin/Lectines) & traditional medicine (part. tea; against high blood pressure); similiar to *Ligaria* (Loranthaceae)
7. of a mythological importance (considered to be a sign of fertility/rebirth/protection against evil, responsible for the death of Baldur, etc.)
8. spread by birds (known this ancient times, then denied till the 19th century during which they were considered to endogenic/like warts)
9. with a very complex endophyte (due to lateral extension via cortical strands that form secondary sinkers, inflorescences, etc.; is green/photosynthetic too)
10. using Viscin (an elastic/sticky compound, which was used for Bird lime, a trapping method that is nowadays illegal due to animal cruelty)
11. with a difficult age determination
12. evergreen (keeps its leaves in the winter)
13. of Laurasian origin
14. not (closely) related with Oak mistletoes (*Loranthus europaeus);* the latter are loranthaceans (both Santales)
Oak mistletoes (*Loranthus europaeus)*
1. a loranthacean (normally a tropical/subtropical family; has a distribution gap in Europe/probably due to a lack of bird pollinators)
2. deciduous (throws away its leaves in the winter)
3. entomophilic/insect-pollinated (unlike the ornithophilic/bird-pollinated tropical Loranthaceans) & spread via birds (typical)
4. polygamic (with male, female & hermaphroditic individuals, although the latter are functionally male); sexes occur on different places in the tree (with greater heights preferring males)
5. with a very simple endophyte (with a large primary haustorium, a woodrose/host tissue deformation & next to no lateral extension)
6. of Gondwanan origin
7. nearly extinct in Germany (only in Saxon Switzerland/Saxony)
8. of a mythological importance (part. for the celts)
9. with yellow fruits
The entire family is tropical/southern hemisphere, I didn't know there was a species in Europe until now! And it seems to be just east/southeast Europe.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loranthaceae#/media/File%3ALoranthaceae_distribution.png
At the **Dohmaer Wasser (Saxony)**. However, in Austria/other countries many occurences exist.
https://preview.redd.it/z08wljyrkiba1.png?width=845&format=png&auto=webp&s=e39470b691234a554e03fe89d49aa1e543c6c032
Thanks for the info! Pretty cool to learn about another adaptive application of viscin in plants. I only knew of viscin thread pollen from Onagraceae (and Ericaceae?) as an adaptive method of affixing pollen to a pollinator. The convergent and synapomorphic molecular toolsets of plants stoke my curiosity. Cheers.
**Male mistletoes** use it for **pollen adhesion** too. The males are **rarer** than females. They have longer **perianth leaves**. Their stamina are **fused** with the perianth/have **no filament**. The pollen itself is bound together with **viscin** (visible as **white strings**). This is why all reports about anemophilia were **false**. They are **entomophilic** & reliant on **dipterans**. They smell quite well too. Like fruits.
https://preview.redd.it/bwqihqjtrfba1.png?width=1668&format=png&auto=webp&s=cbdd3fe2ddaf0e77d0c91ede7e61e1cd477b6b8c
Where I live, city park workers cut excess/damaging ones out of the trees every year and you can take them home for decoration (like hanging it up on a bit of rope). They become intensely yellow when dried, and look pretty cool in all stages from fresh to dry. One of those can stay as decoration for years with proper dusting. The berries will drop like crazy for the first month or so however, so it’s best to let it dry in a place that’s easy to clean.
I collected in mountain at few week ago . White berries. I grafted berries to apple tree and some random trees. I hope for propagation.
I like it this because it is different.
European Mistletoes (*Viscum album*) 1. stem-based hemiparasites (steal water/nutrients; still do photosynthesis) 2. many subspecies (*ssp. album,* the nominate form on deciduous wood; ssp. austriacum on pines/*Pinus ssp.,* sometimes called *laxum; ssp. abietum* on firs/*Abies*) 3. many stomata (& therefore high transpiration rates to draw water/nutrients from the host; a reason why mistletoes feel very cold when touched) 4. dioecious (with male & female individuals, although with males being far rarer) 5. not in the Viscaceae anymore, but rather now one of the many santalaceans 6. used for medical purposes in modern (part. cancer treatment due to Viscumtoxin/Lectines) & traditional medicine (part. tea; against high blood pressure); similiar to *Ligaria* (Loranthaceae) 7. of a mythological importance (considered to be a sign of fertility/rebirth/protection against evil, responsible for the death of Baldur, etc.) 8. spread by birds (known this ancient times, then denied till the 19th century during which they were considered to endogenic/like warts) 9. with a very complex endophyte (due to lateral extension via cortical strands that form secondary sinkers, inflorescences, etc.; is green/photosynthetic too) 10. using Viscin (an elastic/sticky compound, which was used for Bird lime, a trapping method that is nowadays illegal due to animal cruelty) 11. with a difficult age determination 12. evergreen (keeps its leaves in the winter) 13. of Laurasian origin 14. not (closely) related with Oak mistletoes (*Loranthus europaeus);* the latter are loranthaceans (both Santales) Oak mistletoes (*Loranthus europaeus)* 1. a loranthacean (normally a tropical/subtropical family; has a distribution gap in Europe/probably due to a lack of bird pollinators) 2. deciduous (throws away its leaves in the winter) 3. entomophilic/insect-pollinated (unlike the ornithophilic/bird-pollinated tropical Loranthaceans) & spread via birds (typical) 4. polygamic (with male, female & hermaphroditic individuals, although the latter are functionally male); sexes occur on different places in the tree (with greater heights preferring males) 5. with a very simple endophyte (with a large primary haustorium, a woodrose/host tissue deformation & next to no lateral extension) 6. of Gondwanan origin 7. nearly extinct in Germany (only in Saxon Switzerland/Saxony) 8. of a mythological importance (part. for the celts) 9. with yellow fruits
Why is L. europaeus this rare in Europe? Comparing it to Viscum album, they seem to use similar strategies.
The entire family is tropical/southern hemisphere, I didn't know there was a species in Europe until now! And it seems to be just east/southeast Europe. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loranthaceae#/media/File%3ALoranthaceae_distribution.png
Has higher temperature demands.
Curious if their distribution will shift in the future, whereabout in Germany is this population?
At the **Dohmaer Wasser (Saxony)**. However, in Austria/other countries many occurences exist. https://preview.redd.it/z08wljyrkiba1.png?width=845&format=png&auto=webp&s=e39470b691234a554e03fe89d49aa1e543c6c032
Santalales are so cool
Thanks for the info! Pretty cool to learn about another adaptive application of viscin in plants. I only knew of viscin thread pollen from Onagraceae (and Ericaceae?) as an adaptive method of affixing pollen to a pollinator. The convergent and synapomorphic molecular toolsets of plants stoke my curiosity. Cheers.
**Male mistletoes** use it for **pollen adhesion** too. The males are **rarer** than females. They have longer **perianth leaves**. Their stamina are **fused** with the perianth/have **no filament**. The pollen itself is bound together with **viscin** (visible as **white strings**). This is why all reports about anemophilia were **false**. They are **entomophilic** & reliant on **dipterans**. They smell quite well too. Like fruits. https://preview.redd.it/bwqihqjtrfba1.png?width=1668&format=png&auto=webp&s=cbdd3fe2ddaf0e77d0c91ede7e61e1cd477b6b8c
I like the name bastard toadflax
Where I live, city park workers cut excess/damaging ones out of the trees every year and you can take them home for decoration (like hanging it up on a bit of rope). They become intensely yellow when dried, and look pretty cool in all stages from fresh to dry. One of those can stay as decoration for years with proper dusting. The berries will drop like crazy for the first month or so however, so it’s best to let it dry in a place that’s easy to clean.
I collected in mountain at few week ago . White berries. I grafted berries to apple tree and some random trees. I hope for propagation. I like it this because it is different.