with Spencer Shaw
Mention mistletoe to some folk and they will cross themselves, produce wooden stakes, silver bullets, cloves of garlic and sprinkle holy water about liberally.
The thought of a plant drawing on the bodily fluids of another plant for its survival conjures up images of herbaceous vampires sucking the life out of our trees.
However, there are over 30 species of mistletoe native to SE Queensland. These plants may draw on the moisture and mineral reserves of their hosts but they photosynthesise / feed themselves.
Mistletoes are spread by numerous animals, including the Mistletoe Bird.
These little birds have a specialised digestive system that passes the seed within a ½ hour (now that’s what you call regular!).
The seed of mistletoe have a long sticky tail that passes through the digestive system.
This long sticky tail requires that the little birds wipe their backsides on a branch as they pass the seed to completely pass the seed tail.
This ensures that the seed is placed in the best position for it to grow: on a branch. The seed tail also helps it adhere to the branch.
There is also another intriguing set of animal – mistletoe relationships, with the Azure butterflies.
These are exclusive mistletoe feeders and some also require the presence of specific ants.
The butterflies provide food to the ants, secreted from glands on the caterpillars and in return the ants provide protection to the caterpillars.
Some Azure caterpillars hide under bark, in borer holes or ant nests during the day and at night with their ant body-guards may travel up to 40 metres, to mistletoes high up in eucalypts.
Amazingly the leaves of mistletoe’s often mimic those of their host.
There are even mistletoes that only grow on other mistletoes’ such as the Golden Mistletoe.
So next time you see a Mistletoe don’t panic, rejoice that they are a unique important part of our ecosystems.