Mistletoe
Viscum articulatum

Family: Santalaceae

What it is like

Shrubs which climb and feed on other plants. They are vines which hang down. The vines are square in cross section but become round with age. They have ridges along them. The leaves are reduced to small scales near the flowers. Several flowers develop one after another along the flowering shoots. The male and female flowers are separate but on the same plant. The male flowers are triangular shaped while the female flowers are more like cylinders. Male flowers are near the edge and female flowers at the centre. The fruit is a white or yellow berry which lets light through. The fruit are round, smooth and 3-4 mm across. The fruit is attached to a long sticky strand.

It has also been put in the family Viscaceae.

Where it is found

They are tropical plants. They are spread naturally by special birds. They only grow on certain kinds of trees. (Loranthaceae and Buchanania obovata). In Sikkim it grows between 500-1,500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Sikkim

How it is used for food

The whole plant is roasted and eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Normally these are dropped into trees by birds which eat the fruit.

Its other names

Local names

Banda, Bandala, Budu, Gandhamadini, Harchur, Hurchu, Jivantika, Kabikabi, Kamarukha, Kamavriksha, Katkom janga, Kawarka, Lenpat, Mandada, Nilavalli, Pand, Paragaccha, Thition, Vadaka, Vando, Vandu, Xavtevqtevqlevq

Synonyms

Viscum nepalense Spreng.;