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The Conversation
The Conversation
Environment
Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne

At a time of giving and receiving, our many Australian mistletoes do it too

Australia Harry Potter Santa Flickr
Drooping mistletoe (Amyema pendula) in flower. John Tann/Flickr, CC BY

The airwaves and shopping centres have been filled with Christmas songs and carols. Apparently mommy was seen kissing Santa underneath the mistletoe. Harry Potter’s first kiss was also under a twining white-flowered mistletoe.

Magic, mystery and symbolism surround mistletoes. Their popularity at Christmas comes from their evergreen foliage symbolising life without end.

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