Mistletoetastic

The traditional boom in mistletoe which takes place on the edge of Wanstead and South Woodford is back, demonstrating beautifully the parasitic character of the plant (it lives on other trees, having been planted there in bird poo). If you see it, point it out to a child.

(Rumours that the word ‘mistletoe’ comes from words for dung + twig seem not to be true – more likely is that it comes from sticky + twig, describing the way the berries stick to the host tree.)