![Mistletoe grows on a pear tree in Butts County, Ga.](https://secure.caes.uga.edu/news/multimedia/images/782/mistletoelr.jpg)
Mistletoe = parasite
Mistletoe is often used postmortem to lure unsuspecting sweethearts to a Christmastime kiss. For the other 364 days of the year, it is actually considered an infectious parasite that kills trees.