Viscum album is a species of mistleteo in the family, Santalaceae, commonly known as European mistletoe, common mistletoe or simply as mistletoe (Old English mistle). It is native to Europe and western and southern Asia.Viscum album is a hemiparasite on several species of trees, from which it draws water and nutrients. It has a significant role in European mythology, legends, and customs. In modern times, it is commonly featured in Christmas decoration and symbology. (V. album is found only rarely in North America, as an introduced species; its cultural roles are usually fulfilled by the similar native species Phoradendrom leucarpum.)It is a hemi-parasitic shrub, which grows on the stems of other trees. It has stems 30–100 centimetres long with dichotomous branching. The leaves are in opposite pairs, strap-shaped, entire, leathery textured, 2–8 centimetres long, 0.8–2.5 centimetres broad and are a yellowish-green in colour. This species is dioecious and the insect-pollinated floweres are inconspicuous, yellowish-green, 2–3 millimetres diameter. The fruit is a white or yellow berry containing one (very rarely several) seed embedded in the very sticky, glutinous fruit pulp.It is commonly found in the crowns of broad-leaved trees, particularly apple, lime (linden), hawthorn and popular.