Note from the Author: I’ve mentioned this plant before but no real write-up.
Here's a good close up 
This cluster is growing on a Ornamental Cherry tree near the downtown library. 
This larger cluster is doing pretty well, notice how the branch is bent? This is not from weight but the scar tissue and callusing caused by the Mistletoe's haustoria. 
Seen from the bridge down the road from the Headquarters library in Downtown Fayetteville.
Common Name: American Mistletoe
Other Common Names: Mistletoe, False Mistletoe, Oak Mistletoe
Botanical Family: Santalaceae (The Sandalwood Family)
Botanical Latin Name: Phoradendron leucarpum (aka P. flavescens, P. serotinum)
Description & Habitat: American Mistletoe like most other true Mistletoe are considered a hemiparasite in that they do have chlorophyll in sufficient quantity to photo synthesize but lack a traditional root system. American Mistletoe is almost exclusively found growing on trees. American Mistletoe uses a root like structure called a Haustoria, that digs into its host plant to extract water and nutrients. These specialized roots can go up or down the branches of a host and penetrate the Xylem and Phloem. American Mistletoe is evergreen and is often spotted as strange leafy blobs seen high up in deciduous trees after the trees have dropped their leaves in autumn. Up close American Mistletoe is best described as medium green in color with oppositely arranged leaves that a leathery to the touch and oblong in shape. This plant’s flowers are inconspicuous to a point of barely being noticed. The flowers are small native species of bees, wasps flies and ants. The flowers might also be marginally wind pollinated. The white berries of American Mistletoe are of note because they are how this plant spreads. Each berry is coated in a sticky substance that causes it to stick to the beaks and feet of birds who then rub the seeds off on surfaces such as other trees. Additionally since birds eat the berries the seeds get dispersed in the usual bird-oriented way as expected.
Special Toxicity Note: This plant is poisonous to People, Cats, Dogs and Horses. Although most references say it is toxic if large quantities are eaten that is relative to body weight of the victim. Symptoms of American Mistletoe poisoning include; Stomach and intestinal irritation with diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, lowered blood pressure, and slow pulse.
The primary poison compounds in this plant are Amine, toxalbumin, pharatoxin viscumin (Lectins, Phoratoxins), the berries are the worst part but it is possible the foliage is just as dangerous so don’t take any risks out there.
When & What to Harvest: You can harvest sprigs of this plant for holiday festivities but do not harvest this plant as any sort of food or medicine.
Related Plants: European Mistletoe (Viscum album), Pacific Mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum), Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium sp.)
Recipe: Not Edible, don’t even try.
Additional Information: (If applicable)
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/phoradendron-leucarpum/
Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:
-if you are determined you can find clusters of this plant in trees all over downtown Fayetteville and those clusters are especially visible in winter.
With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog. In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.
Fall Produce:
Garlic, softneck
Soup Kits, Parsnip
Soup Kits, Turnip
Carrots
Celery
Onions
Parsnips
Red Potatoes
Turnips
Sweet Potatoes
Plants Coming Soon:
TBA, new stuff in spring
How to stay in Contact with Us!
All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.
Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville
Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:
The Videos: Look Here
>Newest videos (-): [On Winter Haitus]
Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is January 3rd at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.
