North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Ginda Fisher <ginda@concentric.net>]

There was mistletoe growing on a neighbor's oak.  I'm pretty sure that's
what killed the tree.  It actually grows roots into the wood of the tree
and extracts water, sugars, and minerals.  It probably doesn't kill the
tree unless there are other stresses, but I think it is a serious
competitor for water, and does a lot of harm during drought.

Other types of mistletoe kill cactuses.  I'm not certain about the one
on oaks, but the cactus type has berries that are enjoyed by birds,
which spread the seeds.

Ginda

Tom Olenio wrote:
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> Just saw them harvesting mistletoe with shotguns on a TV
> news snippet.  Never thought much about mistletoe and looked
> it up.  It is a parasitic shrub that grows at the top of
> deciduous trees, offering white poisonous berries. (is that
> close enough for NAFEX discussion) [smile]
> 
> Have never seen this, or heard it before.  Very curious.
> 
> How does this plant do it?
> 
> Later,
> Tom
> --
> Thomas Olenio
> Ontario, Canada
> Hardiness Zone 6a
> 
> 
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