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The Conversation USA

Mistletoe – famous for stolen holiday kisses – is a parasite that steals water and nutrients from other plants

  • Written by David Hillock, Associate Extension Specialist Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University
imageAmerican mistletoe's genus *Phoradendron* means 'thief of trees' in Greek.Joe Decruyenaere/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

A parasitic plant with potentially poisonous berries might not sound like something that would boost your Christmas decorations to the next level. But, botanically speaking, that’s what mistletoe is.

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