Mistletoe_0370
This is biology rather than photography. Here are two mistletoe seeds sending out new growth which will penetrate the apple tree bark on which they're sitting and start a new mistletoe infestation. This is how it works; mature mistletoe form berries which are eaten by birds but the seeds within are toxic so the birds tend not to eat them but just take the flesh and then wipe their beaks on tree branches. The seeds however, are very sticky and adhere to the branches from where they start to grow, penetrate the tree bark and hey presto another mistletoe is formed.
Thanks to all who found this interesting - my thanks go to Helen Lowther - a very knowledgeable gardener who pointed me towards the seeds and told me their story.
Mistletoe_0370
This is biology rather than photography. Here are two mistletoe seeds sending out new growth which will penetrate the apple tree bark on which they're sitting and start a new mistletoe infestation. This is how it works; mature mistletoe form berries which are eaten by birds but the seeds within are toxic so the birds tend not to eat them but just take the flesh and then wipe their beaks on tree branches. The seeds however, are very sticky and adhere to the branches from where they start to grow, penetrate the tree bark and hey presto another mistletoe is formed.
Thanks to all who found this interesting - my thanks go to Helen Lowther - a very knowledgeable gardener who pointed me towards the seeds and told me their story.