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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
23-12-2011, 09:00 PM   #1

Mistletoe


Saw on the noon news that mistletoe will be very scarce this holiday season because of the severe drouth in Texas where most of it grows .....



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Kazz's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Non at the moment
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 16,941
24-12-2011, 10:14 AM   #2

Re: Mistletoe


Really it grows in Texas. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant and actually speeds up the death of the tree host, weird eh? I brought soem mistletoe this year and brought it when I was in Gloucstershire so locally grown it grows around/in orchards I think.



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Velvet's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 5 DSH. 2 DLH
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nth Ireland - UK
Posts: 3,605
24-12-2011, 01:46 PM   #3

Re: Mistletoe


Interesting - never have need for it tho........



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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
24-12-2011, 04:50 PM   #4

Re: Mistletoe


Same here, Velvet, just of academic interest to me too!



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truthisouthere's Avatar
Catsey Senior
 
Cats owned: Birman.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 759
31-12-2011, 02:05 PM   #5

Re: Mistletoe


Yes, mistletoe puts it's roots down through the branch of it's host tree, thickening the branches, the only way to get rid is to cut off the whole branch. Trees can live for many years with mistletoe, but it does tend to weaken them alot. You can grow your own by rubbing a few berries on a branch where they'll root by living off the gelly like moisture sourrounding the berry. Eilen, you're right, the berries can't dry up or they won't be able to reproduce on the tree. More commonly it's the birds that spread the mistletoe as the seed is deposited in their droppings where it takes on the tree.
Blackbirds love the berries but they are poisonous to man.



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