There’s something strange and almost mystical about mistletoe, even before you start digging into its past.
It’s hemiparasitic, meaning it draws resources from a host plant but also has chlorophyll, so can photosynthesise to create nutrients. The species of mistletoe native to the British Isles is Viscum album, or European mistletoe, which grows in the boughs of deciduous trees, most commonly apple, hawthorn, and poplar.
It’s a widespread sight in traditionally orchard-rich areas of Britain, such as Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, cheering the appearance of winter-grey trees with its bright green globes of
