Viscum (Noun)
Meaning
Type genus of the Viscaceae: Old World evergreen shrubs parasitic on many trees including oaks but especially apple trees, poplars, aspens and cottonwoods.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- Viscum, commonly known as mistletoe, has a unique characteristic of being parasitic to many trees.
- In temperate climates, viscum plants thrive as evergreen shrubs with distinctive leaves.
- Some botanists recognize multiple species of viscum with various hosts and distribution patterns.
- Research indicates that the preferred host of the European viscum species is apple trees.
- Parasitic in nature, the roots of viscum grow within the tissues of their host tree to derive necessary nutrients.