Mistletoe harvested in texas oklahoma

Mistletoe harvested in texas oklahoma, Lore and rumors abound about mistletoe. You will hear it is poisonous from some, and a healer from others. With 1,300 mistletoe species worldwide, it is no wonder there is both confusion and fascination with this plant that adds merriment to the holiday season. Good guy / Bad guy All mistletoe plants are “semi-parasitic,” meaning that while they manufacture their own food through photosynthesis, they also must obtain water and minerals from a host plant or tree. Once on a host, mistletoe is not a gracious guest. It sends out root-like structures that penetrate its host, sucking out mineral nutrients and causing an early death. (And you thought you had encountered some unruly holiday guests.) Nevertheless, we have a lot of fun with mistletoe during the holiday season. And, on a more serious note, some wildlife depend on mistletoe. For example, tree squirrels and birds find it a wonderful nesting ground. They also eat the berries off the female plants in the fall and winter, as do deer and porcupines. Three kinds of butterflies actually depend on mistletoe for their survival. So, you can see the “good-guy, bad-guy” role that mistletoe plays across the globe. There are two general types of mistletoe native to the United States: American mistletoe and dwarf mistletoe. American mistletoe American mistletoe, Phoradendron serotinum, is the type of mistletoe most commonly sold during the holiday season. It grows in deciduous (leaf-bearing) trees from New Jersey down into to Florida and across into Texas and Oklahoma. Most mistletoe for the holidays is harvested in Oklahoma and Texas. In fact, in 1893, mistletoe was chosen as the state flower for Oklahoma. It is now designated as the state’s floral emblem. American mistletoe has minor toxicity. When ingested, vomiting or diarrhea may occur. In addition, touching the plant can cause skin rash or irritation. The berries of mistletoe are generally the most toxic part, which is why you often see plastic berries attached to the mistletoe sprigs we purchase at holiday time.