MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 163 
The distribution of mistletoe is almost entirely by birds, 
the seed either being swallowed whole, or because of their 
stickiness, adhering to the beak or feet, to become dislodged 
later on some favorable tree. Tradition limited this dissemi- 
nation of the plant to a single bird, the “mistletoe thrush” 
or ‘‘misselbird,” which was the messenger of the gods. Hence 
the occurrence of mistletoe, particularly on the oak, was held. 
to be deeply significant. Many other trees are infested by 
this parasite, however, in the southwest the hackberry, elm, 
mesquite, and osage orange: being the most common hosts. 
After the seed are deposited on the branch of a tree, they 
usually begin to germinate as soon as moisture and tempe 
ture conditions are favorable. When the root-like portion 
comes in contact with the branch, it flattens out, forrfing a 
sucker-like disk. Depending upon circumstances, there 
may or may not be produced from this disk during the first 
year a process which penetrates the bark of the host as far 
as the wood. During the second year a single pair of leaves 
may be formed, and the “roots,” by mechanical force and 
the secretion of a digestive ferment, continue to ramify the 
tissues of the tree upon which the parasite is established. 
The mature plants are bushy in appearance and may reach 
the height of three or four feet. ‘The flowers are produced 
in late summer or early fall so that the berries are well devel- 
oped early in December. Plants of the European mistletoe 
have been found which were estimated to be forty years of 
age, but it seems probable that the American variety does not 
normally attain an age of more than half this number of 
years. 
NOTES 
Dr. W. T. Swingle, of the United States Department of 
Agriculture, was a Garden visitor on December 16. 
Dr. George T. Moore, Director of the Garden, spoke be- 
fore the St. Louis Medical Society, November 27, on “Plant 
Diseases.” 
Prof. F. 8. Cooley and Mr. M. L. Wilson, both of Mon- 
tana State College, Bozeman, Montana, were recent visitors 
at the Garden. 
The ladies attending the convention of the Transportation 
and Car Accounting Officers of the Railroads of the United 
States visited the Garden on December 14. 
On December 3, Mr. W. W. Ohlweiler, General Manager 
of the Garden, gave a lecture before the staff and pupils of 
