Mistletoe

Mistletoe is the common name for most obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. Mistletoes attach to and penetrate the branches of a tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they absorb water and nutrients from the host plant.

The name mistletoe originally referred to the species Viscum album (European mistletoe, of the family Santalaceae in the order Santalales); it was the only species native to Great Britain and much of Europe. A separate species, Viscum cruciatum, occurs in Southwest Spain and Southern Portugal, as well as North Africa, Australia and Asia.

Over the centuries, the term has been broadened to include many other species of parasitic plants with similar habits, found in other parts of the world, that are classified in different genera and even families — such as the Misodendraceae and the Loranthaceae.

In particular, the Eastern mistletoe native to North America, Phoradendron leucarpum, belongs to a distinct genus of the Santalaceae family. The genus Viscum is not native to North America, but Viscum album has been introduced to California. European mistletoe has smooth-edged, oval, evergreen leaves borne in pairs along the woody stem, and waxy, white berries that it bears in clusters of two to six. The Eastern mistletoe of North America is similar, but has shorter, broader leaves and longer clusters of 10 or more berries.

Mistletoe (Colbie Caillat song)

"Mistletoe" is a Christmas song performed by Colbie Caillat and written by friend and former manager Stacy Blue along with Caillat.

Release

The 2007 version of the song was produced by Mikal Blue and released as a digital download single on November 20, 2007. USA Today featured the article on "Mistletoe" as the most downloaded holiday song of 2007. In its first holiday run, the song sold approximately 116,000 units.

The song was re-recorded by Caillat's father, Ken Caillat, and re-released on her Christmas album "Christmas In the Sand" on October 22, 2012.

In popular culture

The song was featured in the 2008 film Baby Mama. The song was also featured in the 2008 Lifetime Christmas movie, Christmas Child.

Charts

References

External links

Mistletoe (disambiguation)

Mistletoe is the common name for several species of parasitic plants. In historical and cultural contexts, the word often refers to the European mistletoe (Viscum album), or to the similar Eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum), a species native from North America that is usually substituted for V. album in Christmas traditions.

Mistletoe may also refer to:

Media

Military

Places in the U.S.