by LARPD Volunteer Docent Wally Wood 

Root of the Problem: A Bad Dream 

The story goes that Mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, goddess of love and the mother of Balder, the god of the summer sun. Balder had a dream of death, which greatly alarmed his mother, for should he die, all life on earth would end. To keep this from happening, Frigga went at once to air, fire, water, earth, and every animal and plant that roots in the earth, seeking a promise that no harm would come to her son. Balder now could not be hurt by anything on earth or under the earth.  

Loki Finds a Loophole 

But Balder had one enemy, Loki, god of evil, and Loki knew of one plant that Frigga had overlooked in her quest to keep her son safe. It had no root and grew neither on the earth nor under the earth, but on apple and oak trees: it was the lowly Mistletoe. So, Loki made an arrow tip of the Mistletoe, gave it to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who shot it, striking Balder dead. The sky paled, and all things on earth and in heaven wept for the sun god. For three days, each element tried to bring Balder back to life. He was finally restored by Frigga, the goddess, and his mother.  

The Mistletoe Kiss 

It is said that the tears she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on the Mistletoe plant, and when she saw these beautiful berries, she was filled with great joy. In her joy, Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree on which it grew. The story ends with a decree that whoever stands under the humble Mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a token of love. 

It's a Parasite

Mistletoes are parasites, dependent on their host for water, nutrients, and some or most of their carbohydrates. Mistletoe species grow on a wide range of host trees, some of which experience side effects to growth, stunting, and loss of infested outer branches. A heavy infestation may also kill the host plant. 

An Important Part of the Ecosystem but Toxic to Humans

Most Mistletoe seeds are spread by birds that eat the berries and pass the seeds onto a tree branch. There are 1500 species of Mistletoe, varying widely in toxicity to humans. The primary active toxic compounds in American Mistletoe are  phoratoxins, and their effects can include blurred vision, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, although these rarely occur.  

Mistletoe can be found on trees throughout Sycamore Grove Park, especially on Oak trees. During the winter months, look for birds like robins, hermit thrushes, phainopepla, and cedar waxwings enjoying their berries in the leafless trees of the mistletoe's host plants.