A common mistletoe, Viscum album, on a small tree of Swedish Whitebeam, Sorbus intermedia. The picture was taken in Norfolk, UK in December. The mistletoe has retained its leaves (centre, green), and is carrying developing fruits ( "berries" ), which appear as white spheres. The red berries visible are fruits of the host tree. Mistletoe is a parasite; at the point of attachment it penetrates the host tissue and withdraws water and nutrients, although it retains its own photosynthetic ability. The flowers are inconspicuous and produced in Spring; the berries do not fully ripen until late winter. Its seeds are dispersed by birds. Some species eat the berries and spread the seeds in their droppings; others wipe the sticky seed from their beak without ingesting it. Common hosts for mistletoe include apple trees (Malus), lime (Tilia) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna).