Mistletoe is a parasite with an unusual feeding strategy – study

Mistletoe is a parasite with an unusual feeding strategy, a study has revealed (Paul Nabity/UCR)

Mistletoe – the plant that encourages kissing at Christmas – is actually a parasite and has an unusual feeding strategy, new research suggests.

Like other plants, mistletoe can use sunlight to create its own food, a process called photosynthesis.