Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-12-25

Apart from IL real or mythical con
nection with the Drulds. and ia practl
cal use in modern Christmas fosivitcs
the mistlctoc Is undoubtedly a YER,
curious and interesting plant IL Is
naturally uncanny-looking thing; aud.
no doubt, The uncanniness ofiisappcar
ance and mode Of growth has hal muci
10 do with the place V fills in popular
supcrstitions and folklore. The bough
"ggod non sNd seminal arbos," Is al
most the only good example u vcgo
table parasite 20 be found IN any north.
ern climate: so that Il has reasonably
enough attracted great deal OF a,tcn
ton from all northern peoples In every
age Even when deta. hed from the
trunk OF It's host mistletoc bough Is
curious oh ect with its fiat opposite
pairs Of succulent leaves. its jointed
green branches. its suspiclcus.lookino
glaucous color. and It's terminal tw'g.
abruptly ending In an unfinished knoo.
Scientifically speaking. the mstlctot
has afforded an open battle field for in.
Vulnerable svstematists. The question
whether four little Leaf c.s in the Tower
were TO be called petals or calyN pieces
i'm itself about as important as tho
question. who was Hecuba's gran l.
mothcr-has often cruelty divided the
botanical world. We now know that
the mistletoc is really exactly what each
OF the contcnding pait'cs contradictory
asserted IL to be. Like most other par
asitic plants. the mistle.oe derives is
origin from u family OF climicrs
II Is closely connected with those
L.. IL l..
cornell. dogvood. gue'der-rose aud
elder. which compose perfect ne work
Of connecting links between many YER,
distinct groups Of plants. These types.
In fact. form central station. rs /.
were. from which diverging branches
run out in every direct ON. Seycra of
the lines started nom this intcriac ny
center have taken 10 climbing habits;
among them are ivy on the one hand
and honeysucklc on the other (both Of
which have berries much like those o.;
mistletoc). together with the little
clinging cleavers and bed straw Of our
hedgercws. which are somewhat more
remotely connected with the r'gnal
ancestor. But certain allied races Ike
the sandalwood family. are parasitic on
the roots OF other plants. The ancestor
OF the mistle.oe. which was clearly in
termediatc between those two types -
whence the dispute rs 10 it, proper
place in the Old linear arrangement
must have more or less comb ned both
habits; IL must have been at once a
creeper and parasite. In this way Il
could ascend the trunks Of trees. and
then fasten itself on 20 the SOFT I ssnes
OF the bark. at first. no doubt. By means
OF suckers. The mistletoe has be-
come. in the ordinary but very incorrect
language of botanists. perfect para
site. The means by which II has accom-
plished this change may still be observed
In the existing berry.
Looking closely at the top Of tho little
white fruit one can see four small. black
ish marks. which are the scars LETT be-
hind by the four calyx pieces in falling
oil. These scars show the place of the
plant beside such other bushes as the
dogwood and the wayfaring tree. Now.
Il the berry is cut OF en-. the inner pulp
appears as an extremely Wis III mass OF
slime indeed. the very word ''viscid''
is but the adj ecuve Of viscum; and from
this pulp birdlime is manufactured Fin
bedded in the slime is n single hard
seed. The use OF such an arrangvme u
70 the mistletoe Is easy enough TO under
stand. Birds eat the berries. and thus
carry the seeds from tree TO tree, Some
times. no doubt. the fruit simply clngs
by It's own sticky substance TO their fee.
or feathers and gets rubbed of when
they alight on another bough; but in
other cases II is probably swallowed.
and the seed then passes. undigesied.
through their todios. In either event
the plant obtains IL desired result. the
placing Of its offspring securely in n
proper position for terminating and
fastening on the tissues o. its host for
such purp ,se the glutinous pulp Is oh
Fiously well adapted. Most para> ties.
animal or vegetable. have to produce
enormous numbers OF eggs or see :.
which are simply turned loose anywhere
On the chance that one or two iinoug
hem NAV happen TO light upon its prnl ct
prev. But the possession Of frat O.
he shape o. an edible berry. pro del
with natural gum 70 fasten the seed "a
% the branches Of trees saves the M =
letoe from any such despc ats shi Is q,
.hese. So successful has il been 10
Iced in getting IL young we'll STAR
n life. that. like many other ,rry '..z
srs which trust to birds for ii-per.cn !.
lss actually been enabled to d spcs.~
with some OF Its primitive quotu g
leeds. Pull Nall Gazette