Mistletoe, also called European Mistletoe, is a parasitic shrub that thrives
among the branches of other trees, most notably poplar, oak, elm, apple and
hawthorn. This member of the sandalwood family is native to central Europe, with
various sub-species distributed throughout western and Southeast Asia.
Although the herb is traditionally used to prepare teas and tinctures, the fact that it
contains a protein-binding agent that behaves similarly to ricin suggests that
it's best to limit mistletoe to decorative and ceremonial purposes.
