MISTLETOE 39 



so that the evergreen foliage of the parasite stands out prominently 

 in contrast to the leafless branches of the tree. Specimens of 

 Mistletoe for study are most easily obtained during the Christmas 

 season from the shops, and it is often possible to get a portion of 

 the host plant and study the insertion of the parasite upon it. 



The thick base of the Mistletoe shoot will be found to send a 

 root-like absorbent structure into the softer tissues of the branch 

 of the host. This extends through the rind till it reaches the 

 outer limit of the wood. At this level branches are formed, which 

 run in the direction of the length of the branch of the host. 

 From these branches pointed suckers, or sinkers as they are called, 

 project into the wood of the tree. The wood is too hard to be 

 penetrated by the sinkers, but these become embedded in it as 

 new layers of wood are formed year after year. The growth of 

 the sinker to keep pace with this proceeds at the base, not at the 

 tip. By means of this peculiar system of root-like parts, which 

 has only been briefly described, the Mistletoe is so closely connected 

 with the wood of the host plant as to be able to absorb from it the 

 water and other materials it needs. 



The Mistletoe is, however, not wholly dependent on the host 

 plant. It obtains water and salts from this, but can take in 

 carbon dioxide from the air and manufacture complex food sub- 

 stances in its green leaves. The shoot consists of a persistent 

 woody stem, the older parts of which have grown in thickness, 

 bearing long oval leathery green leaves. The stems remain green 

 for a long time, but ultimately become covered with a brown 

 layer of cork. The leaves are borne at the nodes in whorls of two, 

 and each has a bud in its axil. These buds develop as branches, 

 and since the terminal bud usually forms an inflorescence and 

 does not form a leafy shoot we obtain the peculiar forked branch- 

 system of the plant. Inflorescences also form in the axils of 

 the leaves at the base of lateral shoots. 



Some plants of the Mistletoe bear male or staminate flowers, 

 others female or pistillate, flowers. The inflorescence is incon- 

 spicuous. It bears a terminal flower with two small scale-like 

 bracts. In the axils of these are flowers, and these may in turn 

 bear lateral flowers, so that there are usually three or five flowers 

 in the inflorescence. The general appearance of the male and 



