DATE:     12/19/02
CONTACT:  Bob Polomski, (864) 656-2604; bplmsk@CLEMSON.EDU
EDITOR:   Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3876; sbeding@Clemson.edu

Caution mistletoe above!

                        By Bob Polomski
           Clemson Extension Consumer Horticulturist

     While visiting family, I was upended by a kiss on the cheek from
my mother-in-law.
     Lost in thought, I was completely startled. I tumbled in a heap 
as my feet came out from under me on the freshly waxed floor. I winced
above the collection of astonished faces to see what provoked my
mother-in-law. I knew it -- mistletoe.
     I stared at that festive sprig of green leaves and pearly white
berries and realized that for most of the year, nobody wants this
plant.  
     With the onset of the Christmas season, mistletoe comes into its
own. And for whatever the reasons, it has remained in our culture for
centuries.
     The modern tradition of using mistletoe around the Christmas
holiday season dates back to the Celts of northern Europe. Druids, the
holy men of Celtic society, used mistletoe in winter solstice
ceremonies. Fearing the cold, short days of winter, the Druids used
this green symbol of growth to ensure the return of the sun's warmth 
in the spring.
     Of more modern origin is the act of kissing under the mistletoe 
on Christmas Eve. It probably drew upon age-old rituals and traditions
involving druidism and fertility rites. In any event, it began as a fad
in England and Wales in the 18th century and has become a Christmas
tradition.
     Basically, mistletoe is half-parasitic. It has leaves to produce
its own food, but steals water and nutrients from its host.
     Mistletoe begins its life as a small white berry that is eaten and
spread by birds, such as robins, thrushes and cedar waxwings. The seed
germinates within 6 weeks after being deposited by a bird on twigs and
small branches.
     It produces "roots" that tunnel through the bark and tap the inner
tissues for water and nutrients. Shortly thereafter, the seedling
produces shoots and leaves. It takes about 5 years for mistletoe to
flower, which occurs in the fall.
     Yellowish-green male and female flowers are borne on separate
plants. After being pollinated by wind or insects, the female flowers
give rise to berries that ripen in the winter to begin the cycle again.
     Being a pest, mistletoe can affect the growth and vigor of its
host, and can expose the plant to attacks by diseases and insects.
     In some instances, mistletoe can cause branches to die back, and
heavy, shrubby mistletoes can break entire limbs. In other situations,
mistletoe is simply a cosmetic problem, which only affects the
appearance of the tree.
     The only effective way of ridding your plant of a mistletoe
infestation is by pruning.
     Cut the infected limb one to two feet below the plant because
mistletoe "roots" may extend up to a foot on either side of the point
of attachment.
     Breaking off the tops, similar to plucking off the leaves of
dandelions or wild garlic in the lawn, only encourages regrowth.
     Pruning out mistletoe clumps from the uppermost reaches of trees
should be left in the hands of certified arborists.
     If you're a do-it-yourselfer, please avoid butchering the tree
with haphazard cuts.
     Since the 1950s, scientists have been searching for cheaper and
more effective methods of controlling mistletoe.
     Herbicides have been evaluated, but they may pose a threat to the
host.
     Growth hormone sprays interrupt flowering or cause the shoots to
fall off, but the mistletoe eventually resprouts and needs to be
treated again.
     If you decorate your home with store-bought or home-grown
mistletoe, hang it up high out of the reach of children and pets. The
berries are toxic, and the sap may irritate the skin of some people.
     Also, you may want to avoid hanging mistletoe above waxed floors
without posting a sign that says: Caution -- Mistletoe Above.  
           ******************************************
     If you have gardening questions, search our website at
www.clemson.edu/psamedia or write to PSA Media Relations, A-101 Poole
Agricultural Center, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634-0129.
                              END