A Tree Grows in Biebrich is a photograph by Sarah Loft which was uploaded on July 11th, 2015.
A Tree Grows in Biebrich
I photographed this odd looking tree at the edge of a park near the Baroque Biebrich Palace on the Rhine in Germany. At first glance I thought the... more
by Sarah Loft
Title
A Tree Grows in Biebrich
Artist
Sarah Loft
Medium
Photograph - Digitally Painted Photograph
Description
I photographed this odd looking tree at the edge of a park near the Baroque Biebrich Palace on the Rhine in Germany. At first glance I thought the dark roundish clumps might be nests, but they are not. I have learned that they are mistletoe.
Per Wikipedia: Mistletoe is the English common name for most obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they absorb water and nutrients from the host plant.
The name mistletoe originally referred to the species Viscum album (European mistletoe, of the family Santalaceae in the order Santalales); it was the only species native to Great Britain and much of Europe. A separate species, Viscum cruciatum, occurs in Southwest Spain and Southern Portugal, as well as North Africa, Australia and Asia.
Over the centuries, the term has been broadened to include many other species of parasitic plants with similar habits, found in other parts of the world, that are classified in different genera and even families—such as the Misodendraceae and the Loranthaceae.
Mistletoe is relevant to several cultures. It is associated with Christmas as a decoration, under which lovers are expected to kiss. Mistletoe played an important role in Druidic mythology in the Ritual of Oak and Mistletoe.
Mistletoe continued to be associated with fertility and vitality through the Middle Ages, and by the 18th century it had also become incorporated into Christmas celebrations around the world. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is referred to as popular among servants in late 18th century England: the serving class of Victorian England is credited with perpetuating the tradition. The tradition dictated that a man was allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath mistletoe, and that bad luck would befall any woman who refused the kiss. One variation on the tradition stated that with each kiss a berry was to be plucked from the mistletoe, and the kissing must stop after all the berries had been removed.
Per Wikipedia: Biebrich is a borough of the city of Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany. With over 36,000 inhabitants, it is the most-populated of Wiesbaden's boroughs. It is located south of the city center on the Rhine River, opposite the Mainz borough of Mombach. Biebrich was an independent city until it was incorporated into Wiesbaden in 1926.
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Featured in the ABC group, July 2015.
Featured in the Artists Best Five Artwork group, July 2015.
Featured in The World We See group, September 2015.
Featured in the All Natural Beauty of this World group, January 2018.
Uploaded
July 11th, 2015
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Comments (14)
Robert Nacke
Beautiful Sarah such stunning image that shows such of life that moves us all! Sharing for sure!