In general, mistletoe is a term given to a special group of plants that are flowering and perennial in habit and grow as parasites attached to the branches of host trees and shrubs. They are very efficient in absorbing water, nutrients and even food material from their host by a special absorptive organ, the haustorium. Almost all mistletoes are aerial stem parasites, so “mistletoe” is synonymous with the habit of shrubby epiphytic parasites. In Nepalese they are called “Ainjeru” or “Lisso”.
