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This is European Mistletoe, Viscum album.
This is American Mistletoe, Phoradendron flavescens (and similar species)
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Other Plant Parasites
The mistletoe families are members of the Santalales, an order of plants characterised by having mostly hemi-parasitic members. Other hemi-parasites in the order include the Santalaceae (sandalwoods) and the Balanophoraceae.
But there are many other hemi-parasitic plants – including some commonly encountered in grassland and woodland throughout the World. Many of these belong in the plant order Scrophulariales.
Yellow Rattle
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Families with parasitic members include the Scrophulariaceae, which includes the familiar English wild flower Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus). This grows commonly in calcareous grassland, parasitising grass roots.
Other familiar species include Lousewort (Pedicularis), and in the tropics the destructive Witchweeds (Striga). Also the Dodders (Cuscuta, in the Bindweed family) and Laurel Dodders (Cassytha, in the Laurel family) |
Dodder on Gorse
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These species are all hemi-parasites as they have green leaves to photosynthesise but rely on the host for water and mineral nutrients. But there are others with no chlorophyll – and these are holo-parasites.
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Parasitic plants without green coloration are known as holo-parasites, as they rely on their host for all their nutrition.
There are many examples of holo-parasites in the plant order Scrophulariales (see the hemi-parasites above). The biggest group is the family Orobanchaceae – the broomrapes and toothworts.
These are found throughout the world – some common examples from Britain are shown below:
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Two broomrapes: Orobanche hederae and O. gracilis
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Other holo-parasites include several members of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). These are unrelated to the Orobanches – though in their holo-parasitic form they look superficially similar.
Examples include Birds Nest Orchid (Neottia), pictured left.
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Quick links |
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Want to buy mistletoe? Visit:
Need news about mistletoe? Try: 
Looking for mistletoe advice, or a speaker? Try
Interested in Mistletoe Events? Visit:
For mistletoe cards, tees, mugs etc visit 
Want to Grow Your Own? Get advice here, or buy a grow-kit
Coming soon - links to:
The Mistletoe Picture Library
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