Discover Nature

Discover Nature: The Holiday 'Thief'


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You might steal a kiss under its green branches around the holidays, but in nature, mistletoe is known as a thief. This parasitic plant attaches to and steals nutrients from trees, but it's not a complete parasite as its leaves can convert sunshine into energy to make its own food. And it's not a complete bum as its flowers, fruits, and leaves provide many benefits. The oak mistletoe, our most common, was once believed to extinguish fire. This comes from an earlier belief that a flash of
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Discover NatureBy Josh Hartwig