![]() The seed’s sticky coating adheres it to limbs and trunks where "it’ll germinate and make a little seedling, and right away it bores into the tree it’s growing on” using a special rootlike organ called a haustorium, Metzgar explained.Ī hemiparasite, the woody shrub needs trees to survive, but it also photosynthesizes, allowing it to stay a festive green throughout the winter. Mistletoe’s tiny white flowers form into clusters of snow-white berries during the late fall and winter, and are a favorite among birds, which spread them from tree to tree. ![]() "It grows on trees, taps into their vascular systems and steals nutrients and water from them.” "It’s in the genus Phoradendron, which literally translates to ‘tree thief,’” Metzgar said. And while it’s the plant of holiday romance, its true characteristics are a little more ominous. Metzgar explained that of the seven native mistletoe species in the U.S., only one grows in Virginia- Phoradendron leucarpum -commonly called American mistletoe or Eastern mistletoe. "When Europeans came to North America, there was this other mistletoe here, so they just transferred a lot of the mythology and traditions with it.” " is a different species and different genus, but they look similar,” explained Jordan Metzgar, a biologist and curator for the Massey Herbarium at Virginia Tech. The plant’s legends eventually made their way across continents when European settlers immigrated to North America and discovered a plant that closely resembled the mistletoe from their homeland. ![]() BLACKSBURG-Mistletoe lore dates back centuries-to the Celtic druids and Norse mythology-as a symbol of fertility, peace and love.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |