Everyone knows about the power of mistletoe at Christmas, right? It makes
holiday romance democratic by making everyone equally kissable friends,
strangers and distant cousins. Wander beneath a sprig of mistletoe at a holiday
party, and like it or not you become fair game to anyone whose lips are within
range.
But there is much more to mistletoe than kissing and holiday merriment.
This year, don't just fill up on eggnog as you linger near the mistletoe hoping
that special someone you secretly adore will stroll by unawares or back up just
another few steps.
Fun Facts About Mistletoe
Here are a few fun facts about mistletoe from the U.S. Geological Survey to
help you pass the time and make the wait for your holiday kiss seem shorter:
* American mistletoe,
the kind most often associated with kissing, is one of 1,300 species of
mistletoe worldwide but one of only two that are native to the United States.
The other is dwarf mistletoe.
* Twenty species of
mistletoe are endangered, so be careful what you pluck from the forest for your
next holiday party.
* Phoradendron, the
scientific name for American mistletoe, means "thief of the tree" in
Greek. Although not a true parasite in scientific terms, mistletoe comes close,
sinking its roots into a host tree and leeching nutrients from the tree to
supplement its own photosynthesis.
* Sadly, the
translation of the word "mistletoe" itself isn't very romantic. A few centuries
back, some people apparently observed that mistletoe tended to take root where
birds had left their droppings. "Mistal" is an Anglo-Saxon word that means "dung" and "tan" means "twig," so mistletoe actually means "dung on a twig."
* The growth of
mistletoe had little to do with the bird droppings, and a lot to do with the
birds themselves. Mistletoe seeds are extremely sticky and often latch onto
birds' beaks or feathers or the fur of other woodland creatures, hitchhiking to
a likely host tree before dropping off and starting to germinate.
* The dwarf mistletoe
doesn't have to rely solely on hitchhiking to find a host tree. The seeds of
the dwarf mistletoe can explode from ripe berries and shoot as far as 50 feet.
* Despite its
parasitic tendencies, mistletoe has been a natural part of healthy forest
ecosystems for millions of years.
* Mistletoe is toxic
to people, but the berries and leaves provide high-protein food for many
animals. Many bird species rely on mistletoe for food and nesting material.
Butterflies lay their eggs on the plants and use the nectar as food. Mistletoe
is also an important pollen and nectar plant for bees.
If you've read through this list more than twice and still no kiss, maybe it's
time to head home and try again next year. Meanwhile, these fun facts will give
you something to talk about as you wait for your next "free kiss"
opportunity-at midnight on New Year's Eve
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