The flower structure is reduced and primitive in appearance. It uses an endophytic system to penetrate through the cambial region of its host. Birds eat the fruit, dispersing the seeds to other tree limbs. A sticky viscin layer on the seed allows it to adhere to the branch. The seed germinates and develops an adhesive disk.
Shoots are usually visible the second year.
Once the endophytic system becomes established, the plant grows quickly. Since the leaves stay green all year, once leaf fall takes place, it is easy to spot balls of mistletoe high up in hardwoods. This is certainly in keeping with the believe with its ability to protect and to open other worlds for the user. It was known at the time that if children ingested the berries they often experienced convulsions, considered a homeopathic indicator for its use. Anthrposophical medicine introduced Iscador, a remedy used in Germany to this day for patients suffering from cancer.