mistletoes
Holiday kissing decorations
Mistletoes is the plural of mistletoe, a parasitic plant that grows on the branches of trees, drawing nutrients from its host.
The plant produces white berries and has distinctive evergreen leaves.
In Western tradition, mistletoe is hung as Christmas decoration, and people standing beneath it are expected to kiss—a custom that makes caught under the mistletoe a minor social event during holiday gatherings.
Exploiting a host organism
- hemiparasiteOrganism partially dependent on host
- evergreenRetains foliage year-round
- berriesSmall fleshy fruits
- host treeTree bearing dependent organisms
drupes · germination · seeds · branches · photosynthesis · sticky · bark · deciduous
Egg-laying flying vertebrates
- thrushesSpotted woodland songbirds
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
- berriesSmall fleshy fruits
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
habitat · pollination · ecosystem · canopy · biodiversity · symbiosis · host · woodlands
parasitic
Exploiting a host organism
- hemiparasiteOrganism partially dependent on host
- evergreenRetains foliage year-round
- berriesSmall fleshy fruits
host tree · drupes · germination · seeds · branches · photosynthesis · sticky · bark · deciduous · infestation
birds
Egg-laying flying vertebrates
wildlife · habitat · pollination · ecosystem · canopy · biodiversity · symbiosis · host · woodlands · nesting
kissing
Lip-to-lip contact
- ChristmasWinter nativity celebration
- decorationObject adding visual appeal
- doorwayPassage into a room
tradition · hanging · sprig · ornament · festive · romantic · ceiling · ribbon · holiday · winter
Druids
Celtic priestly caste
protection · Baldur · Norse · mythology · ritual · solstice · pagan · magic · talisman · harvest
mistletoesholly
Spiny-leaved winter shrub
poinsettias · Christmas trees · ivy · wreaths