Botany of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.)

European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) is a hemiparasitic plant growing on different host trees. According to host specifity three different races can be distinguished. The plant is dioecious with very reduced male and female flowers. The life cycle of V. album is described starting from seed germination to the development of the leaves. The parasitism affords special adaptation to mineral nutrition.