Mistletoe (Viscum album)

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Loranthaceae (Mistletoe family)

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The legendary Mistletoe is a parasitic shrub, which forms a rounded tuft of up to one metre across on its host, which is most commonly an Apple or a Poplar. The stems are much branched. The narrow leaves are leathery and grow in pairs. Its small white flowers are rather inconspicuous. Male and female flowers are growing on different plants. Mistletoe bears its berries from November - January. Birds eat these sticky berries and wipe the seeds off onto other trees, which may then host a new plant.

Mistletoe is found throughout the British Isles, except for the far North and Ireland. It tends to be more common in areas where there are orchards, such as Herfordshire.
Flowers: February - April.