The Mistletoe is a little bush that lives exclusively as a parasite on the branches and trunks of certain broad-leaf trees. It is green all the year round and is a dioecious plant, that is to say, each individual plant has either male or female flowers. The seeds enclosed in the white fruit are disseminated mainly with the help of the Mistle Thrush and the Bohemian Waxwing. The Mistletoe is mainly at home in Mälardalen and has been placed under protection in the entire country. The Mistletoe is the official province flower of Västmanland and its largest population in Central Sweden is to be found in the Tidö area.

Photo: Henrik Roos