The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication |
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| Common noun: Mistletoe | ||
| Scientific noun: Viscum Album | ||
| Family. Loranthaceae | ||
| Habitat: It lives as a semi -parasite plant on the branches of several trees , mainly deciduous such as apple, oaks or poplars ,but sometimes on some pines, too. | ||
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| Characteristics: Perennial green shrub to one meter long. Its stem is very short but it' s got many branches repeatedly forking ,so they make a sort of a big clump hanging from the invaded tree. Flowers are unisexual. They grow in clusters of three or five on male or female plants. Male show four tiny petals and four stamens without anthers, directly joined to petals. Female flowers are very simple. Both of them greenish.Its fruit is a white, translucent berry about 6 or 10 mm in diameter with only one seed. Birds are very fond of these kind of berries .One they have eaten them , they get rid of their seeds by rubbing their beaks on to the branches of the trees. By doing this, the sticky seeds get stuck on the tree. There they produce some special roots which begin to suck the sap of the infested plant. Since mistletoe is also able to synthesize part of their food needs by means of the sun ,we say that this is a semi-parasite plant. |
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| Properties: a)medicinal: It diminishes high blood pressure and regulates the heart beat.This effects - according to some authors- only takes place when the active substance ( the viscotoxin ) is applied through intravenous injection .Some other authors advice us to take infusions from the leaves (a teaspoon per cup ) or boilings form the bark ( 1 gr. per litre) to achieve positive effects for our heart or the blood circulation in general. Anti-epileptic: Take three cups of dry leaves infusion ( a teaspoon per cup) Anti-rheumatic: Apply a compress soaked with the boiling of dry leaves on the part of the body affected with rheumatic pains b) magical : It is a plant which has traditionally been considered magical . The old druids used it to prepare their magical brew. Nowadays it is widespread the modern tradition of considering it a " good luck" plant . It is also thought that it will bring happiness to those lovers who kiss themselves under it. This way of thinking has produced a trade, highly extended on Christmas ; which although illegal, might endanger this species . c) Cynegetic: The sticky substance of the berries has been traditionally used to produce a glue to catch birds. This has been considered an illegal method. | 
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| Picking and storing: Berries can be collected in Autumn. The rest of the plant in winter, too. We must dry it in the sun and preserve it in cloth bags in a dry place.
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