Mistletoe

Gold cherry

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 05 Mar 2019
  • 2742 reads
11 comments
 

Orchard trees bare
of their leaves, still share
nourishment with these tangled
green orbs we now see suspended
dressing the winter skeletons;
these squatter plants with evergreen
‘horseshoe wing leaves’
living in apparent harmony
with their host.

As the winter progresses
the masses seem tinted with deep yellow
– flowers replacing the little white globes
of Christmas decorations,
and mischievous myths.

[photos my own]

Certificate U
Poem
Nature
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I've seen this occasionally, but your photos are very impressive Rhiannon - never seen any as prolific as that, in fact I seem to remember hearing that misteltoe is quite rare here now. We couldn't find any at all last Christmas

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

We have been amazed at how prolific it is around here, Insert. And fascinated in seeing how it takes on that yellow hue from the odd little 'flowers' this time of year. In Tenbury Wells they have a Mistleoe fair in December I think selling a lot! Mostly it grows pretty high up trees, difficult to harvest! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

And thanks for red cherries too! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

How exciting! I've never seen misteltoe growing, I had no idea it grew so lushly

according to this website in Europe you can buy teabags of mistletoe! And some people now think it might be useful for cancer

http://mistletoe.org.uk/homewp/index.php/medicine/

your photos make it look like a giant sort of lichen. where you live must be so beautiful, you are a great spokesperson Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Di. I suppose it looks more like an ivy-type of plant growing on the tree in patches, though of course, ivy is rooted in the ground, and I suppose ivy only uses the tree for support.

I suppose most plants have chemicals that can be extracted to see if they have medicinal properties, but only to be used by those who know how and after much careful research and testing. Use in herbal teas must need careful supervision also, not done without proper controls. Chemicals in plants can be very strong and poisonous, but some may have medicinal properties if extracted correctly and used in small amounts properly. There are different types of mistletoe in different countries I think. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

I've never seen mistletoe like this before, especially not growing on orchard trees.

You've captured this mistletoe in words and given the reader an insight into its mystery...well for me anyway.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny, very much. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Nobody catches Nature at its best as you, Rhiannon.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

What a lovely compliment! Thanks, Luigi. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

This is a wonderful tribute to this impish plant parasite Rhiannon, strangely enough it grows prolifically around here (Oxfordshire/Berkshire borders) too. I think once you go above a particular altitude, if conditions are right it can grow quite low down in trees of all sorts. Interesting reading others comments about your peice too, especially about Asterix.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jane. I suppose as so often with plants, you either live in an area where it is seen a lot, or very rare.

Such an unusual plant is bound to be a favourite for tales of magical potions! Rhiannon