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Imela
Viscum album
45.8197, 16.0038
Field Notes
Description:
he foliage is dichotomously or verticillately branching, with opposite pairs or whorls of green leaves which perform some photosynthesis (minimal in some species, notably V. nudum), but with the plant drawing its mineral and water needs from the host tree. Different species of Viscum tend to use different host species; most species are able to utilise several different host species.
The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, 1–3 mm diameter. The fruit is a berry, white, yellow, orange, or red when mature, containing several seeds embedded in very sticky juice; the seeds are dispersed when birds (notably the Mistle Thrush) eat the fruit, and remove the sticky seeds from the bill by wiping them on tree branches where they can germinate.
Habitat:
They are woody, obligate hemiparasitic shrubs with branches 15–80 cm long. Their hosts are woody shrubs and trees. It is native to temperate and tropical regions of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
Notes:
It is used for preparing some traditional alcoholic drinks like Biska and for a tea.
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