Kissing under the mistletoe Mistletoe Porcelain - Boch Freres' 'Gui' pattern European Mistletoe - Viscum album Viscum album - botanical drawing American Mistletoe - Phoradendron species Saucy Mistletoe Postcard - Raphael Kirchner c 1910 Druids Cutting Mistletoe

Mistletoe Studies - Introduction


This section of the site outlines some of the mistletoe studies being undertaken around the world.  As usual there is a bias towards European mistletoe, Viscum album - but there is also information and links to wider research.

Mistletoe research varies widely - covering everything from species classification, floral biology, parasite biology, through to control of problem species and conservation of endangered ones.  And that's just the research for mistletoes themselves.
Mistletoe in Africa book cover

There's also all the research on mistletoes for mankind - the studies of mistletoe biochemistry, production of commercial extracts, research on various mistletoe chemicals and their molecular structure.  This medical research overlaps the general mistletoe studies in many ways - both approaches need to understand mistletoe biology, both need to understand mistletoe biology and both require sustainable supplies.		   ML Lectin Structure

Ironically there isn't much research on mistletoe as a Christmas tradition - just the occasional historical study and sustainable harvesting initiative.  But in general Christmas does not feature in mistletoe research.

This part of the site introduces some current research issues - with links to other sites with more information.  It may be expanded to cover more issues in future.  There is a general review of mistletoe studies in the December 2003 issue of the Biologist - click here to download a copy.