Jonathan Briggs
British Waterways
A fascinating feature of Christmas, mistletoe is a rather mysterious parasite with a complicated
folklore and, perhaps, significant potential in medicine. This review concentrates on Viscum
album, the ‘original’ mistletoe. Its distribution and conservation in Britain, traditions and
potential in medicine are considered within the wider context of the species worldwide.
Viscum album, (Figure 1) is just one of some 1300 mistletoe
species worldwide. All are plant parasites, and in their
native lands many have similar folklore and superstitions
to our own British species. Mistletoes are the dominant
members of the Santalales, a plant order containing mostly
parasitic members. Others in the order include the
Santalaceae (sandalwoods) and the Balanophoraceae.
Mistletoes were once lumped into the Loranthaceae, but are
now split into several separate families. The largest and
most important of these are the Loranthaceae sensu stricto
(over 900 species) and the Viscacaeae (over 400 species).
Smaller families include the Eremolepidaceae and
Misodendraceae.
Mistletoes are all hemi-parasites of trees and shrubs,
joining to the host via an intimate xylem connection called a
haustorium (see Box 1). Most take only water and solutes
from the host, manufacturing their own metabolites
through photosynthesis. Some, notably the forestry pest
Arcuethobium species of North America, have reduced
scale-like leaves and approach holoparasitism. The majority
are aerial parasites, though a few, including the appropriately
named Australian Christmas Tree Nuytsia floribunda, are
root parasites. Most also have distinctive methods of seed
dispersal, usually with distinctively sticky fruits that
adhere to new host branches following dispersal by birds.
Arceuthobium species disperse their seeds by squirting
them from the fruits. A few genera (Nuytsia and
Misodendron) have developed wind-dispersed seeds.
Unusual pollination through animal interaction is characteristic
of some species.
Despite their similarities, it seems that the Loranthaceae
and Viscacae arose separately within the Santalales and
their adaptation as aerial parasites is convergent. They
have very different floral appearance, with the rather
dowdy Viscaceae flowers (Figure 1) eclipsed by the elongate
colourful flowers of the Loranths (Figure 2).The two families
have similar worldwide distributions, occurring throughout
the tropics and subtropics, including sub-Saharan Africa,
Central and South America and Australasia. The Viscaceae
also venture north into Europe and North America with 100
Viscum species in the Old World and 200 Phoradendron
species in the New World.
Viscum has 45 species in Africa and 30 in Madagascar, with
just a few of the V. album group spreading into temperate
European and Asian areas.Though fairly uniform in its floral
characteristics, the plant form varies from the familiar
V. album through to V. minimum, an African species with
much reduced leaves and stems, parasitic on fleshy
Euphorbia species (Figure 3). V. album is the only mistletoe
found in Britain, though others are found in continental
Biologist (2003) 50 (6) 249
Christmas curiosity or
medical marvel?
A seasonal review of mistletoe
Christmas curiosity or
medical marvel?
A seasonal review of mistletoe
Title image: Viscum album, Tenbury Wells mistletoe market.
Europe, including the redberried
V. cruciatum
(Figure 4) in southern
Spain. Arceuthobium
oxycedri, one of the Dwarf
Mistletoes more usually
associated with North
America, is found in the
junipers of Greece, the
Black Sea and a few Mediterranean
sites. Also, a
Loranthaceae member,
Loranthus europaeus,
grows on Fagaceae species,
including oak, in southern and central Eastern Europe.
European mistletoe taxa are further increased by subdivision
of V. album into three subspecies:
•V. a. platyspermum (syn V. a. album) on deciduous hosts
throughout Europe
•V. a. abietis on Firs in central and southern Europe
•V. a. laxum (syn V. a. austriacum) on Pine and Spruce in
central Europe.
The Asiatic V. album populations belong to a fourth subspecies,
V a. coloratum.
Mistletoe in Britain – hosts and distribution
Only V. a. platyspermum occurs in Britain. It is also widespread
in continental Europe, though rare in the north and
extreme south-west. The British distribution is centred in the
south and west midlands, with particularly good populations
in Herefordshire. This was first described by Bull, in 1864,
who listed 30 host species in Herefordshire with a further 23
in other counties, but he emphasised that cultivated apple
(Malus domestica;Figure 5)was by far the most popular (Bull,
1864).Today the host list stands at over 200 tree species.
The first national mistletoe survey in the early 1970s
(Perring, 1973) mapped the species on a two by two km
square (tetrad) basis and assessed host frequency. The
results suggested that mistletoe distribution is influenced
indirectly by man, as most records were of plants on nonnative
or planted trees. Cultivated apple was confirmed as
the most frequent host, followed by hybrid limes (Tilia spp),
hawthorn (Crateagus spp), hybrid poplars (Populus spp) and
false acacia (Robinia pseudacacia; Figure 6). Mistletoe
seems to prefer its hosts in an open situation rather than
woodland, and so orchards, parkland and gardens are ideal,
if somewhat artificial, habitats. Its distribution (Figure 7) was
concentrated in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire,Worcestershire
and Somerset, with scattered records elsewhere in the
south, and rare occurrences
in the north and east
England,Wales, Scotland
and Ireland. There are no
straightforward explanations
for this pattern. The
core area contains apple
orchards, but this cannot
be the sole explanation
because apple orchards are
also frequent in the southeast.
Rather, climate combined
with host availability,
are likely influences
and are under investigation.
The most recent (1990s)
national mistletoe survey
aimed to build upon the
250 Biologist (2003) 50 (6)
A s e a s o n a l r e v i e w o f m i s t l e t o e
1970s analysis and assess
whether British mistletoe
was declining with the
decline in traditional apple
orchards. The survey, a
public participation project,
was organised by the
Botanical Society of the
British Isles (BSBI) and
Plantlife. More than 12 000
winter sightings were sent
in between 1994 and 1998.
Results broadly confirmed
the distribution patterns
and host preferences of the 1970s study, but did not confirm
a decline. Although many recorders’ anecdotes suggested a
local decline with orchard removal, the mistletoe distribution
increased, particularly across the Midlands and southern
England (Figure 7), possibly reflecting increased
recording effort in the 1990s (Briggs, 1995 and 1999).
Although non-quantitative, the 1990s survey highlights
differences across the country in habitat and host preference.
Gardens topped the list of favourites (39%), followed by
orchards (30%), then parks (12%) and woodland (5%). This
emphasises the preference for open and man-made habitats.
Within habitats, host preferences varied. Gardens had the
longest host list with apple
trees accounting for 65% of
records. Orchard records
were also dominated by
apple (90%), park and
churchyard records were
mostly on hybrid lime (63%)
and hedgerow records,
largely hawthorn (50%).
These figures varied
regionally: garden records
were >60% in the east,
south-east, north and
extreme west; orchard
records were highest in
Herefordshire, and parkland records increased to 25% in
the east. Host preference hierarchy altered accordingly,
with proportion of lime rising to 25% in the east, reflecting
the parkland records, and apple at >70% in the north. The
longest host lists are in the stronghold areas, with mistletoe
survival elsewhere closely linked to favoured hosts.
Animal associations
Nearly all mistletoe species rely on animals for pollination and
seed dispersal, and most also provide food for animals,
including several obligate mistletoe feeders. The seed dispersers
are almost exclusively
birds. The few exceptions
include Dromiciops
australis, an Argentinean
tree-climbing marsupial
that spreads the seed of
Tristerix corymbosus.
Whichever vector species,
dispersal and ‘planting’ are
always achieved by glueing
the sticky berries to potential
host trees, either through
wiping the sticky seed from
beaks or by defecating partially
digested fruit.
Figure 1. Viscum album is a
member of the Viscacaeae.
Figure 2. Tapinanthus sansibarensis,
an African member of
the Loranthaceae, showing
colourful flowers, characteristic
of the family. Photo by Neil
Bromhall.
Figure 3. The African Viscum
minimum on Euphorbia.
Figure 4. The Spanish Viscum
cruciatum showing its red berries.
Figure 5. Viscum album growing
on its favourite host, cultivated
apple.
Biologist (2003) 50 (6) 251
A s e a s o n a l r e v i e w o f m i s t l e t o e
In Europe the main vectors are the mistle thrush (Turdus
viscivorous), a defecating vector, and blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla),
a beak-wiping vector. Usually, only mistle thrush
overwinters in Britain and is our main vector. Some studies
suggest that other birds fail to recognise the white (as
opposed to orange, red or black) berries as food. Curiously,
the etymology of Turdus viscivorous suggests it was named
after its fondness for the red V. cruciatum berries rather
than the white V. album.
Mistle thrush’s common occurrence outside the ranges of
both European Viscum species suggests that it is not a
dedicated mistletoe specialist. It is certainly an inefficient
vector, tending to defecate long strings of seeds held on
threads of viscin, with only one or two attaching to the host
branch. In contrast, the Australian mistletoe bird (Dicaeum
hirundinaceum) carefully ‘wipes its bottom’ on a branch
each time it passes a seed. In continental Europe, Blackcaps
are also much more efficient, wiping each seed onto a
branch from their beaks. Recent changes in Blackcap wintering
patterns have led to some wintering in Britain, particularly
in the mistletoe-rich Severn Vale. The long-term
implications of this for mistletoe distribution are unknown,
but intriguing.
For pollination, many species, including V. album, rely on
insects.This may seem an odd strategy for V. album, a winterflowering
dioecious species with tiny green unattractive
flowers.Wind pollination seems more likely but examination
of the flowers in February usually reveals small flies such
as Dasyphora species, attracted by scent and nectar.
Pollination mechanisms for some African and New Zealand
loranths are quite sophisticated, relying on particular bird
species to open the flowers and trigger the release of a cloud
of pollen. These species rival the Orchidaceae in their specialist
animal-dependency (see Kirkup in Polhill, 1998).
Mistletoes, generally, attract herbivores. Berries are an
obvious food source but foliage is
also attractive and more succulent
than host foliage. Some
species have developed host mimicry
to reduce grazing by herbivores;
others (e.g., Mesquite
mistletoe, a Texan Phoradendron
species) may be used as a forage
crop by farmers.
Some invertebrate herbivores,
including several hundred lepidopterans,
are obligate mistletoe
specialists. Examples include:
many Australian Jezebels (Delias
spp); mistletoe browntail moth
(Euproctis edwardsii); several
North American hairstreak butterflies
including the great purple (Atlides halesus),
Thicket (Callophrys spinetorum) and Johnson’s
(Mitoura johnsoni), and the British tortrix moth
(Celypha woodiana) (Figure 8) whose larvae are leaf
miners in V. album leaves.
There are, presumably, many more mistletoe invertebrates
that get less attention than butterflies and
moths, or are difficult to sample from mistletoe high up
in trees, leading to under-recording of, even very common,
species. This is neatly demonstrated in Britain,
where we have ‘at least’ three mistletoe bugs and one
mistletoe weevil. All are probably under-recorded. Of
the bugs, one is the plant-sucking homopteran, Psylla
viscid. The others are heteropterans, Anthocoris visci
and Orthops viscicola. Both seem to be associated with
the psyllid, with Anthocoris probably feeding on it.
Orthops was recorded as a new species in France in 1888, and
within six months enthusiastic Herefordshire naturalists
had undertaken surveys and recorded it as common –
though they had obviously overlooked it before. Over a century
later, the mistletoe weevil Ixapion variegatum was recorded
in an orchard in Herefordshire, as a new British species, by
National Trust surveyors. This species was also previously
known in France – we must wait to see if it too becomes
regarded as ‘common’!
Viscum album outside its main range
There are many small V. album populations outside their
main range, most arising from deliberate introductions.Two
are in North America, far from their native area. Others are
much more ‘ local’ since most, if not all the populations in the
east, north and extreme west of Britain, must be considered
introductions. Populations in America include a flourishing
colony in Sonoma County, California. Established by the
eminent botanist Luther Burbank about 1900, this population
has now spread through an area of over 200 km2 and to
many different hosts. In contrast, the other population, on
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, has spread to only a few
trees in the immediate vicinity despite being established
for some decades (Job Kuijt, pers comm). Similarly, in
Edinburgh, UK, mistletoe is confined to a few single plants
in private gardens, with only small colonies in the Botanic
Garden and the Dean cemetery. A local botanist,William
Paxton (buried close to the colony in the Dean) introduced
mistletoe to some of these sites in the 1890s – but they have
not spread far in 100 years. In the Dublin Botanic Garden, a
small 19th century colony has hardly spread despite a
plethora of potential hosts nearby. By contrast, in the
Botanic Garden in Cambridge, also outside the usual range,
mistletoe grows on a large range of different host trees.
Figure 6. Viscum album host (left) and habitat (right) preference across
Britain. Data from the 1990s survey.
Figure 7. Tetrad map of Viscum album distribution in Britain from the 1970s (left) confirmed in
the 1990s (right) but with more records from the east and south east.
Churchyards
Rowan
Oak
Plums
Ash
False Acacia
Crab Apples
Willow
Maple
Poplar
Hawthorn
Limes
Cultivated apple
Woodland
Field
Hedgerow
Roadside
Parkland
Orchards
Gardens
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 10 20 30 40
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Recent studies of mistletoe colonies in Hamburg and
Brussels, both on the edge of V.album’s continental distribution,
have confirmed that whilst spread may be very slow,
the species is extremely persistent once established. The
Brussels study (Olivier, 1998) details long-established
populations in the city’s cemeteries. Mistletoe records here
show the plant is confined to certain areas and habitats. In
Hamburg, several populations established in about 1903
(Poppendieck and Petersen, 1999), have spread only within
a few hundred metres of their origin.
Similar studies are now underway in London, as part of
the Greater London Biodiversity Action Plan (London
Biodiversity Partnership, 2001). London has sporadic private
garden mistletoe records but larger historic colonies, centred
on Bushey and Home Parks (Richmond), and Myddelton
House and Forty Hall (Enfield). The long-established Park
populations are almost certainly introduced. The Enfield
populations were established by, or at least encouraged by,
E A Bowles (1864–1954), the plant breeder and garden
writer, who lived at Myddelton House all his life.
Myths and traditional uses
Mistletoe appears in legends in many cultures. There are
many common themes; our kissing custom is probably a
remnant of an ancient fertility tradition, helped along by
some British re-invention in the 18th and 19th centuries. In
Greece, Aeneas was guided to the abode of the dead by
plucking the ‘Golden Bough’ of mistletoe. The Norse God,
Balder,was slain by an arrow of mistletoe, soon after everything
living or growing in the earth had sworn not to harm
him. In Britain, it is well known that the druidic priesthood
valued mistletoe, both as a peace symbol and in medicine.
They harvested it with a golden sickle, never letting it touch
the ground and prized mistletoe on oak, their sacred tree,
especially highly. Modern druids have resurrected their
reverence of mistletoe oaks, and actively seek them out.
Other religions are more suspicious, and the Church of
England still actively discourages mistletoe in its churches.
Myths change as they pass down through generations.
The druid story is often reported as factual, despite having
only Roman accounts and much ‘re-discovery’ of druidic customs
in the 18th century by William Stukeley and others, but
as an evergreen parasite growing high on deciduous hosts, it
could appear to symbolise the life-force of the host through
the winter months. The fertility imagery is heightened by
V.album’s shape: the paired leaves, berries and sticky white
juice might just be said to resemble sexual organs.
The British midland custom of hanging mistletoe all year
and ceremonially replacing it each Christmas, whilst burning
the original, has now been lost. The kissing tradition, once
largely confined to Britain, is now established in all
English-speaking countries, even if they do have to make do
with ‘incorrect’ local mistletoe species. Seasonal trade, to
satisfy this habit, is now considerable, with Britain relying
on imports from France, and much of America relying on
material harvested in Texas. ‘Inconvenient’ customs, such
as removing a berry after each kiss and thus limiting the
fun, are usually forgotten.
Mistletoe traditions in continental Europe can differ, with
use at New Year rather than Christmas. New traditions can
still arise. In the current plantlife campaign to nominate
county flowers, there has been competition between
Herefordshire,Worcestershire and Gloucestershire to have
mistletoe as ‘theirs’. In the US,mistletoe is already the ‘state
flower’ for Oklahoma. But the principal ‘new’ use for V. album
may turn out to be in medicine – Getafix’s (the druid of the
Asterix cartoon) magic potion may have potential after all.
Mistletoe in medicine
Sir John Colbatch, writing in 1720, suggested that ‘there must
be something extraordinary about that uncommon beautiful
plant, that the Almighty had designed it for further and more
noble uses than barely to feed thrushes or to be hung up
superstitiously’. His experiments were on epilepsy, and he was
just one of many mistletoe researchers throughout the 18th
and 19th centuries, particularly in German-speaking parts of
Europe. It was there that Rudolf Steiner made his extraordinary
predictions about the plant in the 1920s. He believed
that, as a parasite, the plant should have medicinal value
against cancer, and he described methods of producing
extracts for such use. Since then, there has been considerable
use of mistletoe in both conventional and anthroposophic
medicine, with many mistletoe products and extracts now
used in cancer therapy as well as for hypertension, arteriosclerosis
and arthritis (reviewed by Bussing, 2000).
The components thought to be active in cancer therapy
and some of the products available have been evaluated.
V album’s anticancer properties arise from a mix of cytotoxic
and immuno-modulatory compounds, including the
Viscotoxins and mistletoe lectins. The viscotoxins (I, II III
etc) are thionins that seem to exert cytotoxicity by rapid
permeabilisation of cell membranes. The mistletoe lectins,
related in structure to ricin (from Ricinus) are Type 2 ribosome-
inactivating proteins (RIPs). Each consists of two
polypeptide chains (A and B). Several different types have
been identified, known simply as ML I, II etc. These are also
cytotoxic and are effective immuno-modulators, with uses
in site-directed immunosuppression. They have been extensively
researched – both in terms of biological action and
structure (reviewed by Pfuller, in Bussing, 2000).
The Viscotoxin and ML complement of V. album vary with
the season, host and subspecies, and so most proprietary
mistletoe extracts use a blend from different sources and
seasons. These extracts, manufactured by German and
Swiss institutes (products include: Abnoba, Helixor, Iscucin
and Iscador) are mostly used in anthroposophic and complementary
cancer therapy in continental Europe. Clinical
trials involving the extracts (and isolated Viscotoxins and
ML) have not yet confirmed their value. Though many have
reported improved quality of life and tumour regression,
trial quality is often poor and the mixture of products used
makes comparison difficult (see Bussing, 2000 and the
www.cancer.gov website).
Mistletoe is also available as herbal remedies, usually in
the form of a tea, primarily for hypertension. The teas are
widely available in continental pharmacies but are relatively
infrequent in Britain. Despite its medical potential,
the most common consumer use of V. album in Britain may
well be in shampoo, as it is an ingredient in several supermarket
products.
Figure 8. Mistletoe tortrix moth, Celyhpa woodian. From Bristol
City museum collection. Photo by Raymond Barnett
Biologist (2003) 50 (6) 253
A s e a s o n a l r e v i e w o f m i s t l e t o e
Conservation, control and harvesting
Publicity arising from the 1990s survey led to a widespread
belief that mistletoe in Britain is under threat. As we have
seen, results suggest this belief is erroneous, at least in distribution
terms. The issue of reduced population density
through orchard decline is gradually being addressed by
the inclusion of mistletoe (and mistletoe invertebrate) conservation
in restoration initiatives for traditional orchards.
There are also conservation initiatives for some unusual
mistletoe colonies, including replacement of a lost colony in
the Botanic Garden and introduction at a local arboretum
in Hamburg,with transplanted trees infected with mistletoe
(Poppendieck and Petersen, 1999). In London, conservation
of existing colonies and establishment of new ones is an
objective of the local Biodiversity Plan. Trial plantings,
begun in 2002/3, are in sites chosen for ease of monitoring
and management, including Enfield Lock, Haringey
Railway Fields Nature Reserve and Chelsea Physic Garden.
Biodiversity conservation is not the only reason for new
colony establishment. In France, researchers from Institut
Hiscia (Switzerland) have a programme to increase
V. album on selected oaks and elms.This is to ensure supplies
of oak and elm mistletoe to contribute to cancer therapy
extracts. Globally, however, mistletoe conservation is an
infrequent issue. Mistletoe control is a much greater issue
with many species seen as pests, reducing timber yields in
commercial forestry, or fruit yields in orchards and causing
distortion of specimen trees. Mistletoe will reduce both
yield and tree size, though it is only major infestations that
threaten the survival of the tree itself. Chemical control is
not easy, as herbicides can also damage hosts, and physical
control by pruning is often impractical or ineffective, as
subcortical strands below host bark will regrow. However,
Box 1. From berry to plant
Viscum album seeds tend to germinate in February and March after the berries have become attached to
host branches. Each berry is single-seeded but they are often polyembryonic and can produce more than
one hypocotyl (Figure 9). These green hypocotyls, which bend towards the host bark surface, are the only
non-parasitic phase of the plant. They flatten to a sucker-shaped holdfast against the bark and then gradually
penetrate to the host cambium. There are many studies of the mechanism of penetration – some are
reviewed in Bussing (2000).
Vascular links can take several months to establish, and aerial growth is negligible in the first year.
During this time, an invasive organ known as a haustorium develops under the bark. This fuses with and
grows in synchrony with the
host wood. Haustorial structure
varies between plants but
often distorts the host wood
(becoming a large plant gall)
at the point of infection, often
at the expense of the distal
portion of the infected branch.
In V. album the primary haustorium develops by stimulating the host
cambium and growing with it to form a wedge-shaped ‘sinker’ embedded
in new host wood. This effectively grafts the mistletoe onto the
host (Figure 10). The primary haustorium also extends laterally, producing
cortical strands under the host bark. These produce secondary
haustoria and new mistletoe shoots some distance away from the
original point of infection. Several growths on one branch may be
linked by these cortical strands, which can often be traced where they pass under the bark.
The aerial portion of V. album plants has characteristic forked branches, each tipped with a distinctive pair of leaves (Figure 1). Each branch
divides once each year, so that whilst initial growth is slow – only one pair of leaves after year 1 and two pairs after year 2, subsequent growth
becomes very rapid. The branching habit means that intact, unpruned V. album can form apparently spherical growths. Flowers develop on each
branch in mid-winter, with male and female on different plants. Both sexes are small and green and often overlooked, even though present as buds
(Figure 1) in Christmas mistletoe. The terminal flowers open whilst last year’s berries, by now positioned in branch axils, are still on the plant. The
next season’s berries develop through the summer months as green berries, only ripening to white in winter.
Figure 10. Haustorial cross-sections: TS of the host (and LS of the
mistletoe), showing distorted host wood and fused cambial tissue.
Figure 9. Germinating seed
showing two hypocotyls developing
holdfasts.
Box 2. Growing your own
To succeed in growing your own mistletoe you’ll need to:
• Be prepared – success rates are low and so you’ll need a lot of
berries
• Time it right – success is much higher in February and March
• Be patient – mistletoe grows slowly in the first 4 years
First, secure a berry source. Berries collected at Christmas can be
stored in a shed until mid-February but it is far better to use fresh
berries. Next, choose your host, bearing in mind V. album’s preferences:
apple first, then poplars, limes, false acacia, hawthorn etc.
Most shrubs of the Rosaceae are suitable. Don’t choose your
favourite prize-winning fruit tree, as the mistletoe will distort growth
and reduce yield.
Then prepare the berries. Stored berries will need rehydrating for a
few hours in water. Whether fresh or stored, the seed needs to be
squeezed out of the berry, along with a quantity of the sticky viscin.
Try to plant at least 20 berries at once, as most will die or be eaten.
Since V. album is diocieous, you’ll need at least two plants for future
berries. I advocate ‘nature’s way’, emulating the mistle thrush and
blackcap, by smearing berries onto the branch. Cutting a slit, as
occasionally recommended, can also open the host to other infections.
Stick each seed, with its own glue, to branches 1.5 metres or
so up the tree and on the side or underside of a branch of at least
20mm diameter. Mark each berry loosely with string to aid monitoring.
Germination is fairly rapid and a short green hypocotyl should
appear and bend to contact the host bark. At this stage, the tiny plants
are particularly susceptible to grazing invertebrates and birds, and
prone to dehydration until they have made a host connection. If all
goes well, the hypocotyl should become erect and remain
unchanged until the following Spring, when the first leaves appear.
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for V. album at least, traditional control by selling ‘prunings’
at Christmas can be an ideal way to reduce parasite impact,
provide additional seasonal income and ensure continued
co-existence of both tree and parasite. Mistletoe prunings
from Hereford and Worcestershire orchards are traditionally
sold at the annual mistletoe auctions at Tenbury Wells.
Although local harvestings occur throughout Britain, much
of our Christmas mistletoe is imported from France, where
V. album is more plentiful.
Conclusions
The more we find out, the less we seem to know about
V. album. Surveys and analyses confirm previous distributions,
but cannot explain the pattern. Mistletoe-dependent
insects are under-recorded, with no real knowledge of their
importance or biology. Conservation initiatives are based
more on the species’ cultural, than biodiversity, value. The
varying European traditions are intriguing, with more serious
mistletoe use in medicine in German speaking areas
and, consequently, more publicity and published research
in German. The recent English-language review (Bussing,
2000) gives a good review of current continental research –
and demonstrates that there is a lot more to mistletoe than
just Christmas kissing. Our mistletoe traditions may be
contrived – but they’re fun, and mostly harmless.
References
Briggs, J (1995) Mistletoe – distribution, biology and the National
Survey. British Wildlife, 7, 75–82.
Briggs, J (1999) – Kissing goodbye to mistletoe? Plantlife/BSBI report
Bull, H G (1864) The mistletoe in Herefordshire. Trans Woolhope
Nat Field Club, 5, 59–108.
Bussing, A (Ed) (2000) Mistletoe: the genus Viscum (medicinal and
asromatic plants – industrial profiles) Harwood Academic
Press.
London Biodiversity Partnership (2001) The action.Volume 2 of the
London Biodiversity Action Plan. London Biodiversity Partnership.
Olivier J-F (1998) Cartographie de Viscum album a Bruxelles et
dans les environs Adoxa, 20/21, 1–14.
Perring, F (1973) Mistletoe. In: Plants wild and cultivated (Ed P
Green) BSBI.
Polhill, R and Wiens D (1998) Mistletoes of Africa Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew.
Poppendieck H and Petersen J (1999) Ein ausbreitungsbiologisches
langzeit-experiment: Die einburgerung der mistel in Hamburg
und Umgebung Abh. Naturwiss. Verein Bremen, 44/2-3, 377–396.
Further reading
Becker, H and Schmoll, H (1986) Mistel – arzneipflanze, brauchtum,
kunstmotiv im jugendstil. Wissenschaftliche
Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Stuttgart.
Box, J (2000) Mistletoe, Viscum album, on oaks in Britain.
Watsonia 23: 237–256.
Calder M and Bernhardt, P (Eds) 1983. The biology of mistletoes.
Academic Press.
Common Ground (2000) Common Ground book of orchards.
Common Ground.
Hawksworth, F G and Wiens, D (1996) Dwarf mistletoes: biology,
pathology, and systematics. Agricultural Handbook 709. US
Department of Agriculture Forest Service (now available via
website).v
Murphy, C (Ed) (2001) Iscador: mistletoe and cancer therapy
Lantern Books, New York.
Websites
www.ppws.vt.edu/IPPS
International Parasitic Plant Society promotes the study and
understanding of parasitic plants. It provides a forum for information
exchange.
www.science.siu.edu/parasitic-plants
The ‘Parasitic Plant Connection’ maintained by Dan Nickrent, Southern
Illinois University. An excellent site for all parasitic plants.
www.rms.nau.edu/mistletoe/
The ‘Mistletoe Center’, maintained by Brian Geils, RMRS Flagstaff Lab.
Excellent resource site, with publications etc.
www.rmrs.nau.edu/publications/ah_709
Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. Agricultural
Handbook 709, now out of print.
www.mistletoe.org.uk
A site introducing mistletoes, maintained by J Briggs.
www.lbp.org.uk/action/species/sapmistletoe.htm
Website for London Biodiversity Plan. Mistletoe page.
www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/mistletoe
National Cancer Institute information on mistletoe extracts.
www.cryst.bbk.ac.uk/~ubcgx1d/project.html
Part of Birkbeck College School of Crystallography website, showing
ML structures.
http://plab.ku.dk/tcbh/lectin-links.htm
Thorkild’s Lectin Page. Maintained by Thorkild C. Bøg-Hansen,
University of Copenhagen. Information on lectins, including a link
to the journal, Lectins, Biology, Biochemistry, Clinical Biochemistry.
Jonathan Briggs is an Environmental manager with
British Waterways. He has a long-standing interest in mistletoe,
co-ordinating the 1990’s survey project and ongoing
smaller projects such as London Mistletoe Action Plan.
Email contact for mistletoe matters:
jonathanbriggs@mistletoe.org.uk