Viscum comprises 70 to 100 species of mistletoe that function as hemiparasites, existing on various woody trees and shrubs. These plants extract water and nutrients from their hosts. Characterized by woody stems and pairs of opposite green leaves, they yield small, often unnoticed greenish-yellow flowers and berries that can be white, yellow, orange, or red. The seeds within these berries are coated in a sticky substance, facilitating their distribution by birds, particularly the mistle thrush.

Viscum

Viscum album is a woody, evergreen shrub that exhibits semi-parasitic behavior, deriving water and nutrients from its host while also performing photosynthesis. In winter, it stands out as a globular mass in its host tree, often found on apple trees. The plant features yellowish-green leaves arranged in pairs along its branching stems. In spring, it produces small yellowish flowers, which give way to round, white berries on female specimens. These berries attract various birds, including blackcaps, which clean their beaks of seeds on nearby branches, and thrushes, which consume the entire berry, aiding in seed dispersal through their digestive process. Mistletoe is commonly found across England, particularly in the south-west midlands and southern Welsh borders, though it remains rare in other parts of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

Viscum album

Viscum album subsp. abietis

Viscum album subsp. album

Viscum album subsp. austriacum

Viscum articulatum

Viscum cruciatum

Viscum minimum

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