|
Mistletoe
Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last
decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? |
Mistletoe
"Bob Hobden" wrote in
: Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? I have never seen Mistletoe until a few weeks ago, it was pointed out to me. It is on a couple of trees nearby. I am not into what type of tree, but they both look the same. If I had to guess, I would say Birch trees. I know its a parasite. Baz |
Mistletoe
On 27/11/2012 17:12, Bob Hobden wrote:
Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? Yep, trees that used to have the odd patch are now covered in the stuff. Didn't see too many berries last winter though |
Mistletoe
On Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:42:11 +0000, Baz wrote:
I know its a parasite. Is it? I thought it was an epiphyte. |
Mistletoe
On Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:58:45 +0000, Derek Turner wrote:
On Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:42:11 +0000, Baz wrote: I know its a parasite. Is it? I thought it was an epiphyte. fx: consults Wiki It's an obligate hemi-parasite, apparently: somewhere between the two! |
Mistletoe
In message , Bob Hobden
writes Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? Mistletoe is fairly local. It seems to be most commonly found in chalk country. There used to be a concentration in orchards in the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire area, but recent records from that area are relatively scarce. The last mistletoe I saw wild was in Coventry a quarter of century ago. -- Stewart Robert Hinsley |
Mistletoe
"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote ...
Bob Hobden writes Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? Mistletoe is fairly local. It seems to be most commonly found in chalk country. There used to be a concentration in orchards in the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire area, but recent records from that area are relatively scarce. The last mistletoe I saw wild was in Coventry a quarter of century ago. When I'm feeling a bit better, got that persistent cough/cold that's going about, I'll take some photos around this area so you can see what I'm on about. Some of the trees look evergreen because there is so much mistletoe. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Mistletoe
Derek Turner wrote in news:ahmqvoF4rh4U2
@mid.individual.net: On Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:58:45 +0000, Derek Turner wrote: On Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:42:11 +0000, Baz wrote: I know its a parasite. Is it? I thought it was an epiphyte. fx: consults Wiki It's an obligate hemi-parasite, apparently: somewhere between the two! NO. It is a parasite. It extracts nutrients from it's host in order to grow, and gives nothing in return. Baz |
Mistletoe
"Baz" wrote ...
Derek Turner wrote On Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:58:45 +0000, Derek Turner wrote: On Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:42:11 +0000, Baz wrote: I know its a parasite. Is it? I thought it was an epiphyte. fx: consults Wiki It's an obligate hemi-parasite, apparently: somewhere between the two! NO. It is a parasite. It extracts nutrients from it's host in order to grow, and gives nothing in return. It does extract water and nutrients from it's host but it also has green leaves which photosynthesise so it's not a true parasite like, say, a birds nest orchid as it does make some of it's own food. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Quote:
About 10 years ago, I spread mistletoe seeds I collected onto nicks on various trees in my garden, and it germinated on about 3, and survived on 1, being a crab apple. I subsequently learned I woudl have helped by giving it some bird poo, as they are normally excreted by birds onto trees. It has taken quite a long time for it to grow very much. Also the leaves frequently get eaten by something or other. It has just produced its first berries, 4 of them. But it still isn't big enough to harvest, not like the big balls of mistletoe you see in some trees. They have some amazing mistletoes in other countries. In South America, at least the drier bits of Chile and Argentia, they are commonly red-flowered, and can be foundon acacias, cactuses and other bushes. In the case of the cactus mistletoes, the flowers are all you see, the stems are inside the cactus. |
Mistletoe
"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote in message ... In message , Bob Hobden writes Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? Mistletoe is fairly local. It seems to be most commonly found in chalk country. There used to be a concentration in orchards in the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire area, but recent records from that area are relatively scarce. The last mistletoe I saw wild was in Coventry a quarter of century ago. -- Stewart Robert Hinsley I've never seen mistletoe growing wild here in Leics. I have some ancient apple trees and thought about pressing a few seeds from bought stuff into the bark but I found out that's a bad idea as most Christmas mistletoe is imported. I'd really like some home grown mistletoe, does anyone know how to get berries and if I did, is there a skill to it? Tina |
Quote:
Cut a nick in the bark through to the wood, put seed in with some birdpoo collected from under your seed-feeder, and cross your fingers. It grows on all sorts of trees, and isn't limited to Rosaceae even. Some attempt to keep moist, perhaps with some moss tied over the top might help. Do a few seeds as not all will germinate. |
Mistletoe
On 11/29/2012 09:03 PM, echinosum wrote:
Bob Hobden;973806 Wrote: Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? In general I think it is more common in moister parts of the country, so it may just be responding to recent weather conditions. Also, my experience, related below, is that they are slow growing. Oddly we used to have a huge amount of it in Normandy, not only in the apple trees but also in lime, oak, and silver maples; but it has mostly moved off up north. Some colder winters maybe?? There is still plenty around but now you have to look for it just a bit. About 10 years ago, I spread mistletoe seeds I collected onto nicks on various trees in my garden, and it germinated on about 3, and survived on 1, being a crab apple. I subsequently learned I woudl have helped by giving it some bird poo, as they are normally excreted by birds onto trees. It has taken quite a long time for it to grow very much. Also the leaves frequently get eaten by something or other. It has just produced its first berries, 4 of them. But it still isn't big enough to harvest, not like the big balls of mistletoe you see in some trees. I can't imagine actively trying to grow the stuff, having spent so much time cutting it out! It may grow slowly at first, but once it gets going it really goes. In spite of my ambivalence I really quite like the stuff, we gather loads of it for decorations at Christmas time. They have some amazing mistletoes in other countries. In South America, at least the drier bits of Chile and Argentia, they are commonly red-flowered, and can be foundon acacias, cactuses and other bushes. In the case of the cactus mistletoes, the flowers are all you see, the stems are inside the cactus. That sounds spectacular, I'd love to see it. |
Mistletoe
"Christina Websell" wrote ...
"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote Bob Hobden writes Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? Mistletoe is fairly local. It seems to be most commonly found in chalk country. There used to be a concentration in orchards in the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire area, but recent records from that area are relatively scarce. The last mistletoe I saw wild was in Coventry a quarter of century ago. I've never seen mistletoe growing wild here in Leics. I have some ancient apple trees and thought about pressing a few seeds from bought stuff into the bark but I found out that's a bad idea as most Christmas mistletoe is imported. I'd really like some home grown mistletoe, does anyone know how to get berries and if I did, is there a skill to it? The berries are not ripe until well after Christmas, Feb/Mar time and just need scraping off onto the top of a suitable branch. It does need light to grow and is very slow. -- Regards. Bob Hobden. Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK |
Mistletoe
On 29/11/2012 23:05, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote ... "Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote Bob Hobden writes Seems to be a significant increase in the stuff around here over the last decade. Used to be quite rare but now it's everywhere you look on all sorts of trees. Even on small Rowans in the central reservation of a local road. What's the experience of others? Mistletoe is fairly local. It seems to be most commonly found in chalk country. There used to be a concentration in orchards in the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire area, but recent records from that area are relatively scarce. The last mistletoe I saw wild was in Coventry a quarter of century ago. I've never seen mistletoe growing wild here in Leics. I have some ancient apple trees and thought about pressing a few seeds from bought stuff into the bark but I found out that's a bad idea as most Christmas mistletoe is imported. I'd really like some home grown mistletoe, does anyone know how to get berries and if I did, is there a skill to it? The berries are not ripe until well after Christmas, Feb/Mar time and just need scraping off onto the top of a suitable branch. It does need light to grow and is very slow. I always understood that it was variety specific, that is mistletoe from apple would only grow on apple, where as that from poplars would only grow on poplars and so on. When you are on the A449 going to the Midlands from South Wales there are loads of trees with mistletoe along the roadside. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:01 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter