THE MISTLETOE. 105 



side-roots which run along the branch in the bark 

 or on the surface of the wood. Such lateral roots 

 when in the bark send down perpendicular suckers 

 like the original root. The wood and bark of the 

 victim tree form deposits round the suckers in the 

 cambium layer, and thus these come to be embedded 

 in the wood. The lateral roots also produce bud-like 

 processes which grow up obliquely through the bark 

 and appear in the air as little shoots which develop 

 leaves as if separate plants. When the roots get 

 fairly fixed in the medullary system they retain 

 their connection with it by their inner parts which 

 continue soft and cellular, w^hile outwardly they get 

 thickened by woody layers which pass uninterrup- 

 tedly into those of the victim tree, the rings of 

 growth of parasite and host blending together. 



The effect of the mistletoe on its host is to induce 

 prematurely the appearance and results of age. It 

 contains chlorophyll in its cells, and to some extent 

 assimilates atmospheric food like other green plants. 

 Hence it does not draw the whole of its nutrition 

 from its host. Still it is constantly draining away 

 the sap, which is the life-blood of trees, and so 

 injures them. 



I shall now proceed to consider a few etymological 

 and mythological points relative to the plant and 

 its various names. Plant-names have an especial 

 interest for botanists, and their evolution is almost 

 as wonderful as that of organisms. Then, besides, 

 as this plant fixes itself on a tree of some kind and 

 lives on it, so have the peculiar eccentricities with 

 which it is associated engrafted themselves on the 

 solemn Christian feast. They are survivals from 

 the long-lost Heathen Yule. Though at one time 

 its Christmas associate, the holly, served to adorn 

 a heathen holiday, tlie Eoman Saturnalia in De- 

 cember, it became connected with the Church at a 

 very early period, while the mistletoe has always 

 remained allied with wliat the Church classes as the 

 World. It is a pagan plant still, and the customs 



