BUYERS from all over the United Kingdom and from Europe have converge upon Tenbury for the mistletoe sales.

The first sale at Burford House Garden Store was on Tuesday and there will be another one next Tuesday.

But why do people come so far for a plant that is both a parasite and poisonous?

The main reason is that for many the ‘kissing tree’ is associated with the Christmas season and has for a long time been a popular decoration at this time of the year.

But there is much more to it than this because there are many myths associated with mistletoe.

It is the plant under which even in the world of PC it is permissible to snatch a kiss.

So, what is known about the plant that puts Tenbury on the map and has even given the ‘little town in the orchard’ the moniker as the ‘mistletoe capital of England?’

The plant is a parasite that draws sustenance to the trees on which it predicates. However, it can also produce its own energy so is regarded by some experts as ‘semi parasitic.’

It grows on fruit trees in orchards like those that were at one time so common in and around Tenbury.

It is a decline in the number of orchards that explains why mistletoe is not as common as it used to be although it is by no means a threatened species.

Mistletoe is noted for its bright green leaves and white berries.

Like any parasite it depends upon its host but if an infestation gets too great then it can kill the tree that gives it life.

Although it can look good as a decoration, mistletoe is best left in the natural world where it can provide vital sustenance for birds during the harshest days of winter.

The white berries are less attractive to birds than red berries, but they are nevertheless a food source for the mistle thrush and winter visitors like fieldfares and redwings.

They can also be eaten by some other wildlife but are toxic to humans and so should never be eaten by people.

Berries show from October and are present throughout the winter and early spring before disappearing in May.

Six species of insect are specialist mistletoe feeders, including the rare mistletoe marble moth and mistletoe weevil.

The reason it is associated with kissing is linked to the fact that throughout history the plant has been associated with fertility. It is important for the Druids as both a cure for illness and also a protector against evil.

Mistletoe is not just important in the United Kingdom and Europe but also in the United States.